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SEYMOUR  DURST 


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Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
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REPORT 

OF 

THE  COMMISSIONERS, 

UNDER 

AN  ACT  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE  OF  THIS  STATE, 

Passed  February  26th,  1833, 
RELATIVE 

TO  SUPPLYING  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK 

WITH 

PURE  AND  WHOLESOME  WATER. 


NOVEMBER,  1833. 


NEW-YORK  : 
PRINTED  BY  PETER  VAN  PELT,  FRANKFORT-ST. 

18  3  3- 


- 


DOCUMENT  NO.  36. 


BOARD  OF  ALDERMEN, 

NOVEMBER  12,  1833. 

The  following  Report  was  presented  by  Alderman  Palmer,  received 
by  him  from  the  Commissioners,  appointed  pursuant  to  a  law 
passed  by  the  Legislature  on  the  26th  February,  1833,  in  relation 
to  supplying  the  City  of  New-  York  with  pure  and  wholesome  Wa- 
ter. It  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Fire  and  Water,  with 
directions  to  have  500  copies  printed,  and  to  have  the  accompany- 
ing documents,  consisting  of  maps  of  the  Country  through  which 
the  same  will  pass,  and  the  Profiles  showing  the  depression  and 
elevation  of  the  land,  lithographed. 

J.  MORTON,  Clerk. 


TO  THE  HONOURABLE  THE  COMMON  COUNCIL 

OF  THE  CITY  OP  NEW-YORK. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  this  state,  entitled,  "  an  act  for  the  appointment  of  Com- 
missioners in  relation  to  supplying  the  city  of  New- York  with  pure 
and  wholesome  water,"  passed  26th  February,  1833,  and  in  obe- 
dience to  the  directions  of  said  act, 

RESPECTFULLY  REPORT, 
That  viewing  the  subject  as  the  Commissioners  do,  of  the  utmost 
importance  to  the  city  and  state  of  New- York,  they  have  bestowed 
all  that  reflection  and  attention  to  its  details  which  their  limited 
time  and  capacity  would  admit. 

In  order  that  they  might  be  enabled  to  ascertain  with  the  great- 
est accuracy  the  practicability  and  expense  of  supplying  the  city 
of  New-York  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  pure  and  wholesome 
1 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


358 


water,  both  for  present  and  future  use,  they  engaged  Canvas  White 
and  David  B.  Douglass,  esquires,  civil  engineers,  to  make  separate 
and  distinct  examinations  of  the  Croton,  Sawmill,  and  Bronx  rivers, 
in  the  counties  of  Westchester  and  Putnam,  together  with  their 
several  tributaries  ;  and  to  furnish  the  Commissioners  with  a  map 
and  profile  of  the  country,  and  their  opinion  of  the  quality  of  the 
water,  the  supply  that  might  be  depended  on  in  all  seasons,  and  the 
practicability  of  conveying  it  to  the  city  at  an  elevation  of  sufficient 
height,  that  would  preclude  the  use  of  machinery,  and  answer  all 
the  purposes  contemplated. 

The  Engineers  were  also  instructed  to  designate  the  best  and 
most  feasible  route  for  conducting  the  water,  the  most  fit  and  pro- 
per manner  for  constructing  the  conduits  and  reservoirs,  the 
probable  amount  of  damage  that  would  be  sustained  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  water  to  be  taken,  and  of  the  land  it  might  be 
necessary  to  occupy  in  constructing  the  required  conduits  and 
reservoirs,  together  with  the  total  amount  of  cost  to  the  city  for 
completing  and  putting  into  operation  the  whole  project. 

The  Commissioners  are  sorry  to  state,  however,  that  their  anti- 
cipations that  they  would  be  enabled  to  present  to  the  Common 
Council  the  separate  opinion  of  two  practical  engineers,  have  not 
been  realized,  by  the  receipt  of  a  report  from  Mr.  White,  who 
states,  under  date  of  the  30th  October  last,  that  his  previous  en- 
gagements on  the  Raritan  and  Delaware  Canal,  together  with  the 
frequent  and  heavy  rains  during  the  summer  months,  which  caused 
an  unexpected  flooding  of  the  works,  has  demanded  so  much  of  his 
unremitted  attention  as  to  prevent  him  from  fulfilling  his  contract 
with  the  Commissioners.  A  statement  of  the  causes,  which  pre- 
vented Mr.  White  from  complying  with  his  engagements,  has  been 
furnished  the  Commissioners,  «and  is  annexed  to  this  report,  to 
which  they  beg  leave  to  refer. 

It  is,  nevertheless,  with  great  pleasure  that  the  Commissioners 
are  enabled  to  present  to  the  Common  Council  a  full  and  ample 
report  from  Mr.  Douglass,  with  a  map  and  profile  of  the  country  in 
which  the  rivers,  lakes,  ponds,  and  springs  are  situated,  capable  of 
supplying  this  city  with  an  abundance  of  as  pure  and  wholesome 
water  as  any  country  can  boast  of. 

The  following  abridgment  of  the  report,  alluded  to,  will  present 
a  brief  view  of  the  conclusions  arrived  at  by  the  Engineer. 

Two  routes  are  proposed  for  bringing  the  waters  of  the  Croton, 


359  [Doc.  No.  36. 


and  its  tributaries,  to  the  city  of  New- York,  which  are  termed,  by 
the  Engineer,  The  Inland  or  Sawmill  river  Route,  and  The  Hudson 
river  Route. 

FIRST,  THE  INLAND  OR  SAWMILL  RIVER  ROUTE. 

It  is  proposed  to  form  a  basin,  or  confluent  reservoir,  at  a  point 
near  Mechanicsville,  in  the  town  of  Bedford,  county  of  Westches- 
ter. The  position  chosen  for  this  reservoir  is  268  feet  above  the 
tide-waters  of  the  Hudson,  and  forms  a  natural  basin  of  solid  rock, 
requiring  very  little  embankment  or  artificial  work  to  complete  its 
structure. 

To  this  reservoir  the  following  streams  may  be  brought  by  means 
of_iron  pipes  of  large  size.  First,  the  Muscoot  river,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  three  and  one-eight  of  a  mile,  which  will  afford  a  supply 
of  3,628,800  gallons  per  diem.  Second  the  Cross  river,  at  three 
miles  distance,  and  giving  9,124,400  gallons  per  day.  Third,  the 
Beaver  Dam  and  Broad  Brook  streams,  producing  4,963,480  gal- 
lons per  diem.  Fourth,  the  main  Croton,  including  the  east,  west, 
and  middle  branches,  which  gives  12,695,480  gallons  per  day, 
making  a  total  of  30,460,160  gallons  every  twenty-four  hours,  that 
will  enter  the  confluent  reservoir,  if  permitted  ;  and,  if  we  add  to 
this  the  quantity  produced  by  the  river  Cisco,  we  have  32,503,760 
gallons  running  water  for  daily  use,  if  required. 

These  several  streams  were  gauged  on  the  4th,  5th,  and  6th  of 
September  last,  at  a  time  when  no  rain,  of  a  day's  continuance,  had 
occurred  for  about  two  months  ;  and  the  opinion  of  the  inhabitants 
was,  that  the  streams  were  as  low  as  they  had  ever  been,  except 
at  a  remarkable  drought  in  1816.  To  meet  a  like  occurrence, 
should  it  again  happen,  it  is  proposed  to  deduct  one-fifth  from  the 
foregoing  results,  which  will  reduce  the  quantity  flowing  on  to  the 
city  to  26,002,008  gallons  per  day. 

From  the  confluent  reservoir  the  water  is  to  be  carried  in  an 
jtqueduct  of  masonry,  the  construction  of  which  is  particularly 
described  in  the  report  of  the  Engineer,  to  the  head-waters  of  the 
Sawmill  river,  which  will  require  a  deep  cutting  of  about  three 
miles,  averaging  38  feet  in  depth  and  55  feet  at  the  dividing  ridge. 
This  is  considered  the  principal  difficulty  in  the  location  of  this 
route. 

Twelve  miles  from  the  confluent  reservoir  the  Engineer  points 
out  a  favourable  position,  of  258  feet  above  tide,  for  a  storing 


Doc.  No.  36.]  360 

^reservoir,  should*it  be  required  or  deemed  at  all  necessary.  For 
the  next  fifteen  miles  the  gronnd  goes  off  at  a  gentle  slope,  requir- 
ing no  cutting  or  filling  to  any  extent,  or  extra  work  of  any  kind, 
except  in  one  or  two  instances. 

The  'entrance  to  the  valley  of  Tibbit's  brook  requires  a  cut 
through  the  dividing  ridge  of  12  chains,  or  792  feet  in  length,  and 
22  feet  deep  on  an  average,  chiefly  in  rock  ;  or  it  may  be  tunnelled, 
which  will  shorten  the  distance  50  or  CO  feet.  At  this  position 
'  another  favourable  place  is  proposed,  147^  feet  above  tide,  for  a 
^storing  reservoir,  if  required. 

From  this  the  route  passes  on  the  Harlem  river,  without  any 
material  obstruction  to  the  work,  either  by  deep  cutting  or  high 
embankments.  The  river  is  to  be  crossed  by  an  aqueduct  bridge 
of  18  chains,  or  1168  feet  in  length,  and  consisting  of  nine  plain 
semicircular  arches  ;  the  height,  to  the  water-line  of  the  aqueduct, 
will  be  126  feet. 

On  the  aqueduct  crossing  the  bridge,  and  entering  the  island  of 
New- York,  it  proceeds  to  a  receiving  reservoir,  located,  by  the 
profile  accompanying  this  report,  between  the  Ninth  and  Tenth 
Avenues  and  One  hundred  and  thirty-third  and  One  hundred  and 
thirty-seventh-streets,  at  a  height  of  about  123  feet  above  tide  ;  and 
from  thence,  by  conduit  pipes,  to  reservoirs,  termed  by  the  Engineer, 
equalizing  reservoirs  ;  one  on  One  hundred  and  fifth-street,  between 
the  Eighth  and  Ninth  Avenues,  and  the  other  on  Sixty-ninth-.street, 
east  of  the  Eighth  Avenue  ;  and  finally,  to  a  distributing  reservoir, 
at  the  intersection  of  Thirty-eighth-street  and  the  Fifth  Avenue, 
three  miles  from  the  City  Hall.  The  distributing  reservoir  is  cal- 
culated to  contain  between  fifty  and  sixty  millions  of  gallons,  and 
the  water  to  stand  in  it  at  the  depth  of  20  feet,  and  117  feet  above 
the  tide.  The  distance  from  the  confluence  reservoir  to  the  re- 
ceiving reservoir,  at  Manhattanville,  is  37  miles  52  chains,  and 
from  that  to  the  distribujting  reservoir,  on  Thirty-eighth-street,  is 
five  and  a  half  miles,  making  the  whole  distance  of  this  route  about 
43  miles  from  the  confluent  reservoir,  at  Mechanicsville,  to  the 
distributing  reservoir,  in  the  city  of  New- York. 


The  cost  of  the  works  is  estimated  at  the  sums  following  ; 


361  [Doc.  No.  36. 


For  the  conduits  to  the  confluence  reservoir,  from  the  Muscoot, 

Cross  river,  and  Beaver  dam,  $761,000 
Indemnity  for  water  rights,  43,500 
Contingencies,  50,000 


Total  expenses  of  the  water  of  lower  Croton,  $  854,500 

Upper  Croton  and  branches,  including 

dams,  conduits,  &c.  $1,155,000 
Indemnity  for  water  rights,  57,000 
Contingencies,  65,000 


  1,277,000 

Total  for  bringing  these  waters  to  con- 

fluent  reservoirs,  2,131,500 
Expense  of  the  first  twelve  miles  from  the 

confluent  reservoir,  to  and  including  the 

deep  cutting  at  Sawmill  river,  viz. — 

For  cutting  and  filling  nine  and  a  half 

miles,  including  culverts,  &c.  $61,420 
Excavating  two  and  a  half  miles  of  tunnel, 

one  quarter  rock,  114,000 
Constructing  confluent  reservoir,  channel 

way,  &c.  558,000 


Expense  of  the  remaining  31  miles,  viz. — 
For  cutting  and  filling  from  Sawmill  ri- 
ver to  the  receiving  reservoir,      -  $191,000 
For  Harlem  and  two  small  aqueducts,  Tib- 

bit's  dam,  and  several  culverts,  576,000 
Channel  of  aqueduct  way  complete,  1,020,000 
Receiving,  equalizing  and  distributing  re- 
servoirs, 200,000 
Iron  main  at  $100,000  per  mile,  550,000 
Contingencies,  325,067 
Damage  to  land  and  water  rights,  100,000 


733,420 


Total  cost  of  bringing  the  water  to  the 


2,962,317 


city,  $5,827,237 


It  may  be  proper  to  observe  here,  that  the  quantity  of  water  may 
be  reduced  or  increased  at  pleasure,  by  using  or  not,  as  the  case 


Doc.  No.  36.]  362 


may  be,  any  or  all  of  the  streams  leading  to  the  confluent  reser- 
voir, as  shall  be  deemed  necessary  to  furnish  a  full  supply.  Thus, 
if  we  exclude  the_water  of  the  upper  Croton  branches,  viz.  the 
w^stamddle^and  eastern  branches,  which  will  require  to  be  brought 
in  iron  conduits  for  about  fourteen  miles,  we  shall  still  have  a  daily 
supply  of  about  sixteen  million  of  gallons,  and  a  reduction  in  the 
expense  of  $  1,277,000;  leaving  the  actual  cost  of  the  project  at 
$4,550,237. 

SECOND,  THE  HUDSON  RIVER  ROUTE. 

It  is  proposed,  on  this  route,  to  build  a  dam  across  the  main 
Croton,  about  one  mile  below  Mechanicsville,  and  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  below  the  confluent  reservoir.  The  height  of  the  fountain- 
head  thus  formed,  will  be  about  175  feet  above  tide,  and  the  quan- 
tity of  running  water  which  will  come  to  this  reservoir,  including 
the  discharge  from  the  Muscoot  river,  will  be  44,120,924  gallons 
daily. 

The  location  of  this  route,  until  it  penetrates  the  valley  of  the 
Sawmill,  is  carried  along  the  hill  side  of  the  Hudson  and  Croton 
rivers  ;  the  line  follows  the  north  bank  of  the  Croton  to  Garritson's 
mill,  when  it  crosses  the  river  or  an  aqueduct  of  85  feet  span,  to 
the  south  bank,  where  an  arch  must  be  thrown  over  the  road  in 
order  to  admit  the  passage  of  travellers.  A  number  of  culverts 
must  be  built,  and  several  excavations  made,  of  20  to  23  feet  in 
depth,  on  this  part  of  the  line. 

Near  the  mouth  of  the  Croton,  a  work  of  considerable  magnitude 
occurs,  where  the  ground  will  have  to  be  excavated  to  the  depth  of 
35  feet  at  the  summit.  After  leaving  the  valley  of  the  Croton, 
near  Sing-Sing  village,  another  deep  cutting  occurs,  of  36  feet  at 
the  summit  ;  and  in  crossing  the  chasm,  or  gap,  at  Sing-Sing  hill, 
a  culvert  of  60  feet  span  will  be  necessary.  The  route  then  pro- 
ceeds nearly  on  a  line  with  the  turnpike  road,  without  any  material 
excavations  or  embankments,  for  19  miles,  from  the  Croton  reser- 
voir to  Sleepy-Hollow.  In  crossing  this  hollow,  an  aqueduct  of 
five  arches,  of  70  feet  span,  and  500  feet  in  length  including  the 
wings,  and  60  feet  in  height  to  the  water  line,  will  be  necessary. 

Two  miles  below  this,  at  Tarrytown,  a  cut  of  15  feet,  and  about 
two  miles  further  on,  another,  of  26  feet,  will  be  required.  Seve- 
ral heavy  culverts  must  be  constructed,  one  of  which,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Greenburg  landing,  must  have  a  span  of  20  feet.    Here  the 


363 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


route  leaves  the  line  of  the  turnpike  road  and  inclines  east,  towards 
the  valley  of  the  Sawmill  river.  In  order  to  enter  this  valley,  a 
deep  cutting  will  be  necessary,  of  45  chains,  or  2970  feet  in  length, 
and  averaging  37  feet  in  depth,  chiefly  rock.  After  entering  the 
valley,  the  Sawmill  river  has  to  be  crossed,  which  will  require  an 
aqueduct,  of  three  arches  with  60  feet  span,  making  the  length,  in- 
cluding wings,  250  feet,  and  the  height  above  the  river,  36  feet. 

The  Hudson  river  route,  and  the  Sawmill  or  interior  route,  now 
take  the  same  line  to  the  city.  The  former,  however,  is  consider- 
ably lower  in  its  grade  than  the  latter,  and  consequently  the  mag- 
nitude of  its  works  will  be  increased.  The  Harlem  river  is  to  be 
crossed  by  both  routes,  in  the  same  manner,  to  the  receiving  re- 
servoir, between  the  Ninth  and  Tenth  Avenues  and  133d  and  137th 
streets,  on  the  island  of  New-York.  The  distance  from  the  dam, 
on  the  Croton  river,  to  the  distributing  reservoir,  at  the  intersection 
of  38th  street,  is  nearly  47  miles. 

The  expense  of  constructing  the  Hudson  river  line  will  be  as 
follows  : 

For  cutting  and  filling,  including  the  dam  of  the  Cro- 
ton, and  small  culverts  on  the  whole  line,  8674,651 
Eight  aqueducts,  including  the  Harlem  river,  Sawmill 

river  and  Sleepy-Hollow,  812,000 
Channel  way  for  aqueduct,  or  open  conduit,  35£  miles 

in  soil,  and  residue  in  rock,  1,985,800 
Reservoirs  and  mains  on  N.  York  island,  750,000 
Damage  to  land  and  water  rights,  73,500 
Contingencies,  422,245 


Total  cost  of  Hudson  river  route,  $4,718,197 

As  the  Corporation  are  in  possession  of  a  survey  and  map  of  the 
country,  embracing  the  Bronx  river  and  its  sources,  the  Commis- 
sioners have  not  deemed  it  important  to  spend  much  time  in  the 
examination  of  that  river,  with  the  object  of  supplying  the  city  with 
its  waters ;  particularly,  as  the  running  water  to  be  obtained,  it  is 
believed,  would  barely  be  sufficient  for  present  purposes,  without 
reference  to  the  future  ;  and  their  time  being  limited  to  the  month 
of  November,  when,  by  the  act  under  which  they  are  appointed, 
the  report  to  the  Common  Council  is  directed  to  be  made,  and  the 
2 


Doc.  No.  36.]  364 


examination  to  cease,  they  have  deemed  it  more  profitable  to  lend 
their  whole  attention  to  a  source  of  supply,  where  the  adequate 
quantity  may  be  obtained  at  all  seasons,  both  for  the  future  as  well 
as  for  the  present. 

Some  attention,  however,  has  been  given  to  the  subject,  as  may 
be  seen  by  the  report  of  the  Engineer.  In  order  to  test  the  cor- 
rectness of  an  opinion,  that  the  Harlem  river  possessed  the  requi- 
site power  to  raise  the  water  to  a  sufficient  elevation  on  New-York 
island,  a  calculation  has  been  entered  into,  the  result  of  which  is, 
that  the  whole  power  of  the  river  would  only  raise  to  the  requisite 
height,  4,939,000  gallons  in  24  hours,  being  about  two  millions 
less  than  the  present  wants. 

By  a  reference  to  the  map,  it  will  be  seen,  that  a  line  has  been 
run,  commencing  at  Popham's  factory  on  the  Bronx  river,  where  a 
head  of  142  feet  above  tide  was  gained  ;  from  whence  the  line  con- 
tinues down  the  west  side  of  the  river,  taking  the  same  ground, 
from  the  vicinity  of  Fordham's  church,  as  that  occupied  by  the 
routes  from  the  Croton  ;  the  ground  is  by  no  means  unfavourable, 
but,  in  crossing,  an  aqueduct  of  740  feet,  at  an  elevation  of  57 
feet,  will  be  required.  The  whole  distance  from  the  factory  dam 
to  the  distributing  reservoir,  is  21  miles. 

The  Engineer  made  a  gauge  of  the  outlet  of  Rye  ponds,  on  the 
15th  and  20th  of  August  and  5th  of  September,  and  found  the  dis- 
charge to  be  only  950,400  gallons  daily.  The  running  waters  of 
the  river  were  gauged  on  the  4th  and  5th  of  September,  and  pro- 
duced 4,331,880  gallons  every  24  hours.  Allowing  one  fifth  to 
meet  extraordinary  drought,  there  remains  3,465,504  gallons.  By 
damming  the  ponds,  an  additional  supply  may  be  obtained  of 
2,280,900  gallons,  making  a  total  of  5,752,404  gallons,  as  the  quan- 
tity that  can  with  any  safety  be  relied  on  from  that  source,  and 
which  is  less  than  the  present  wants,  by  about  one  million  of  gal- 
lons. A  small  addition  may  be  obtained  from  Byram  river,  but  in 
effecting  it,  a  resort  must  be  made  to  the  territory  and  waters  of 
another  state,  which  it  is  presumed  would  not  be  attempted,  unless 
by  the  authority  of  that  state. 

The  Commissioners  having  understood,  that  a  proposition  from 
the  Manhattan  Company,  to  dispose  of  their  works  to  the  Corpo- 
ration, is  now  under  the  consideration  of  the  Common  Council,  and 
observing  by  a  printed  circular  from  that  Company,  that  they  have 
25  miles  of  pipes  now  laid  down  in  this  city  ;  and  having  also  been 


365  [Doc.  No.  36. 


informed,  that  the  Corporation  have  about  ten  and  a  half  miles  of 
pipe,  extending  in  different  directions  from  their  reservoir  on  Thir- 
teenth-street, that  they  have  not  deemed  it  necessary  under  these 
circumstances,  to  enter  into  a  calculation  of  the  cost  of  the  pipes, 
that  may  be  required  to  distribute  the  water  in  the  different  parts 
of  the  city.  The  estimates  which  have  been  made,  however,  for 
bringing  the  water  to  the  distributing  reservoir,  are  full  and  large, 
and  intended  to  exceed,  rather  than  fall  short  of  the  cost.  The 
Commissioners  think,  therefore,  that  these  estimates  may  be  relied 
on,  as  amply  sufficient,  to  complete  a  work  that  will  be  a  lasting 
blessing  to  the  present  and  future  inhabitants  of  this  city,  and  an 
honour  to  those  who  may  be  instrumental  in  carrying  it  into  effect. 

For  a  more  particular  and  detailed  description  of  the  survey, 
and  other  important  information  on  the  subject,  the  Commissioners 
beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  able  and  lucid  report  of  the  Engineer, 
hereunto  annexed. 

The  routes  which  are  designated  by  the  report  of  the  Engineer, 
for  bringing  the  waters  of  the  Croton  to  the  city,  differ  so  little  in 
expense  or  feasibility,  that  the  Commissioners  have  not  deemed  it 
necessary  to  make  a  selection  of  one  in  preference  to  the  other,  as 
a  further  examination,  connected  with  facts  and  circumstances 
which  may  hereafter  come  to  view,  will  better  enable  those  to  de- 
cide, who  may  be  selected  to  carry  the  project  into  effect,  than 
they  are. 

That  the  Commissioners  might  be  enabled  to  form  as  correct  an 
opinion  of  the  subject  generally,  as  the  nature  of  the  case  and  their 
other  engagements  would  admit,  they  have  personally  explored  the 
routes  proposed  by  the  Engineer,  and  have  made  frequent  exami- 
nations of  the  situation,  quality,  and  apparent  quantity  of  the  water 
to  be  taken,  and  by  conversation  with  intelligent  individuals  in  the 
vicinity  of  these  waters,  or  who  were  acquainted  with  the  country 
and  its  localities,  they  have  arrived  at  the  conclusion,  than  an  ade- 
quate supply  of  good  and  wholesome  water  is  not  to  be  obtained 
from  any  source,  with  as  much  certainty  of  success,  with  greater 
convenience,  or  with  less  expense,  than  that  recommended  by  the 
report  of  the  Engineer. 

The  construction  of  these  works  will  require  several  years  to 
complete  them,  and  the  supply,  therefore,  must  be  estimated  to 
meet  the  wants  of  the  then  population,  which  it  is  presumed  will 
not  be  less  than  300,000.    On  estimating  the  quantity  that  may  be 


Doc.  No.  36.]  366 


required  for  all  purposes,  the  Commissioners  have  endeavoured  to 
ascertain  the  number  of  gallons  distributed  in  other  large  cities, 
such  as  London,  Philadelphia,  and  Edinburgh. 

It  appears  from  an  investigation,  by  order  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment, into  the  concerns  of  the  London  Water  Companies,  that  the 
quantity  of  water  furnished  the  city  was  equal  to  162  gallons  for 
each  house  per  diem,  or  27  gallons  to  each  inhabitant,  counting 
six  persons  to  each  house. 

The  city  of  Philadelphia,  as  shown  by  a  report  of  the  watering 
committee  for  1832,  supplies  13,806  houses,  factories,  &c.  with 
about  two  million  of  gallons  per  day,  equal  to  146  gallons  to  each 
establishment,  or  about  24  gallons  for  every  inhabitant,  allowing 
six  persons  to  a  house. 

The  city  of  Edinburgh  and  Leith  distributes  about  15  gallons  to 
each  inhabitant,  estimating  130,000  persons  who  use  the  water,  or 
1,950,000  gallons  every  twenty-four  hours.  These  works  may  be 
increased,  so  as  to  deliver  2,661,120  gallons  per  day,  equal  to 
twenty  and  a  half  gallons  to  each  person. 

The  mean  rate  of  these  several  quantities  of  27,  24,  and  15,  is 
22;  and  the  Commissioners  have  adopted  22  gallons  for  each  in- 
habitant of  the  city  of  New-York,  as  the  quantity  required  for  every 
purpose,  which  will  make  it  necessary  that  6,600,000  gallons 
should  be  delivered  at  the  distributing  reservoir  every  24  hours. 
The  Commissioners  have  shown,  however,  that  five  or  six  times 
that  quantity  may  be  obtained,  and  brought  to  the  city,  if  required. 

Every  city  of  note,  whether  in  our  own  country  or  in  Europe, 
has  found  it  indispensable,  so  soon  as  the  population  became 
densely  settled,  and  the  streets  paved  and  compactly  improved,  to 
look  for  a  supply  of  water  from  distant  and  remote  sources. 

The  magnificent  works  of  the  Romans,  erected  for  the  purpose 
of  conveying  water  to  that  city,  are  spoken  of  with  admiration  by 
those  who  have  examined  what  still  remains  of  them.  We  are  told 
that  the  water  was  brought  from  sources  at  the  distance  of  thirty, 
forty,  sixty,  and  in  some  instances,  of  one  hundred  miles;  that  there 
were  twenty  aqueducts  through  which  the  water  was  conveyed,  and 
the  supply  was  equal  to  40,000,000  of  gallons  daily.  To  effect 
this  object,  mountains  were  levelled,  rocks  excavated,  in  one  in- 
stance of  a  mile  in  length,  and  valleys  were  filled  up.  The  aque- 
ducts of  Nismes,  and  Metz  in  France,  and  of  Constantinople  in 
Turkey,  also  owe  their  construction  to  the  Romans. 


367 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


In  more  modern  times,  reference  may  be  had  to  the  cities  of 
London,  Paris,  Versailles,  and  Edinburgh  in  Europe,  and  Phila- 
delphia and  several  other  cities  of  less  note  in  our  own  country. 

Most  of  these  cities  possessed  local  advantages  for  a  supply  of 
water,  far  greater  than  the  city  of  New-York ;  for  in  addition  to 
their  wells,  our  only  resource,  the  waters  of  the  rivers  on  which 
they  were  situated,  were  fresh,  while  that  which  surrounds  this  city 
is  salt  and  unfit  for  the  use  of  man. 

The  city  of  London,  until  it  became  densely  settled,  drew  its  sup- 
ply of  water  from  wells  and  several  small  streams  in  the  vicinity, 
and  when  the  well  water  became  hard  and  unfit  for  ordinary  use, 
and  the  streams  obstructed  by  buildings,  resort  was  had  to  the  water 
of  the  river  Thames,  by  means  of  machinery ;  but  this  was  found 
so  liable  to  become  turbid  and  foul,  that  pure  water  became  a  desi- 
rable object  with  the  inhabitants,  and  in  1608  the  present  works  of 
the  new  river  were  commenced,  and  finally  completed  in  1613. 

The  people  of  Rome  were  contented  with  the  water  of  the  river 
Tiber  and  the  wells  in  that  city,  for  a  length  of  years  after  its  first 
settlement ;  but  when  the  buildings  and  population  became  dense, 
they  also  found  it  necessary  to  resort  to  remote  places  for  a  supply 
of  pure  water,  by  the  means  of  aqueducts. 

The  same  causes  which  operated  in  these  and  other  cities,  and 
which  induced  a  resort  to  distant  sources  for  a  supply  of  good  water, 
are  now  operating  in  the  city  of  New-York  with  increasing  force — 
viz.  an  almost  total  deterioration  of  the  water  obtained  from  the 
wells  and  pumps,  in  all  that  part  of  the  city  closely  built  upon  and 
densely  populated. 

The  water  procured  from  a  large  portion  of  the  wells  of  this 
city,  where  the  population  has  become  dense,  is  unfit  for  ordinary 
use,  and  very  deficient  in  supply;  and  the  well  belonging  to  the 
Manhattan  Company  in  Reed-street,  which  supplies  a  portion  of 
the  inhabitants  with  water  for  drink  and  culinary  purposes,  although 
it  is  said  to  be  capable  of  yielding  more  than  1,000,000  gallons  in 
twenty-four  hours,  is  nevertheless  of  the  same  bad  character  with 
the  other  wells  in  the  thickly  populated  parts  of  the  city,  and  is  so 
impregnated  with  foreign  matters,  that  the  use  of  it,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  Commissioners,  must  be  more  or  less  injurious  to  the  health 
of  those  who  partake  of  it. 

In  1831,  a  communication  was  presented  to  the  Common  Coun- 
cil of  the  city  of  New-York,  by  a  committee  of  the  "  Lyceum  of 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


368 


Natural  History,"  answering  certain  queries  proposed  to  that  Insti- 
tution on  the  practicability  of  supplying  the  city  with  good  water 
within  its  own  limits.  In  the  communication  alluded  to,  the  Com- 
mittee enter  into  an  examination  of  the  sources,  the  quantity,  and 
the  purity  of  the  wrater  on  the  island  of  New- York,  and  arrive  at 
the  following  conclusions  : 

First,  that  the  water  obtained  from  the  wells  in  this  city  is  de- 
rived wholly  and  exclusively  from  the  atmosphere,  either  in  the 
shape  of  rain,  hail,  or  snow  ;  that  this  is  first  absorbed  by  the  sand 
or  earth,  through  which  it  descends  until  it  reaches  the  rock  on 
which  the  island  rests,  or  until  it  saturates  the  earth  and  can  make 
no  further  progress. 

Second,  that  by  numerous  observations  the  annual  fall  of  water, 
on  an  average,  is  calculated  at  about  thirty-six  inches;  but,  that 
the  available  amount  cannot  be  accurately  estimated,  as  allowance 
must  be  made  for  the  evaporation  and  the  quantity  carried  off  over 
the  paved  streets,  and  other  outlets  to  the  river. 

Thirdly,  from  analyses  of  a  number  of  the  well  and  pump  waters, 
in  different  sections  of  the  city,  by  George  Chilton,  esquire,  che- 
mist, it  has  been  ascertained,  that  the  water  of  one  of  the  wells 
contained  ten  grains  of  foreign  matter  in  a  pint,  or  eighty  grains 
to  the  gallon  ;  another,  seven  grains  to  the  pint,  or  fifty-six  to  the 
gallon  ;  a  third,  thirty-six  to  the  gallon  ;  and  a  fourth,  about  thirty- 
three  to  the  gallon.  These  gentlemen  state  as  their  unanimous 
opinion,  "  that  no  adequate  supply  of  good  and  wholesome  water 
can  be  obtained  on  this  island,  for  the  wants  of  a  large  and  rapidly 
increasing  city  like  New-York." 

There  are  wells,  however,  in  the  thinly  settled  parts  of  the  island 
from  which  good  water  is  still  obtained ;  but  from  the  fact,  within 
the  recollection  of  hundreds,  that  but  a  few  years  back  the  wells 
now  producing  bad  water  then  produced  good,  the  Commissioners 
conclude,  that  the  water  obtained  in  the  northern  parts  of  our  city, 
when  that  section  shall  become  densely  populated,  will  share  the 
same  fate  as  that  in  the  south,  where  it  has  undergone  a  change 
from  good  to  bad. 

An  opinion  is  entertained  by  many  of  our  citizens,  however,  that 
water  of  a  good  quality,  and  in  sufficient  quantity,  may  be  obtained 
in  any  part  of  the  city  of  New-York,  by  deep  excavating  or  boring 
of  the  rock  on  which  this  island  rests. 

The  Commissioners  have  endeavoured  to  obtain  information  on 


369 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


this  subject,  and,  with  that  object,  they  have  inspected  such  of  the 
wells  as  have  produced  good  water,  in  considerable  quantity,  by 
deep  excavation  or  boring  in  the  rock  ;  and  to  the  same  end,  they 
have  been  furnished  by  Mr.  Levi  Disbrow,  who  holds  a  patent  for 
his  improved  instruments  used  in  penetrating  or  boring  rock,  with 
a  detailed  statement  of  the  whole  of  his  operations  in  boring  for 
water  on  the  island  of  New- York. 

From  this  document  it  appears,  that  he  has  operated  in  twenty- 
three  different  sections  of  the  city,  and  has,  except  in  a  few  instan- 
ces, been  successful  in  producing  good  water.  In  seventeen  cases 
he  terminated  at,  or  before  reaching  the  rock,  and  penetrated  the 
earth  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  below  the  surface  ; 
and,  in  six  cases,  he  penetrated  the  rock  from  one  hundred  and 
twenty  to  Jive  hundred  feet. 

The  principal  and  most  successful  operations  of  Mr.  Disbrow 
are,  the  deep  boring  for  the  Manhattan  Company  at  the  corner  of 
Broadway  and  Bleecker-street,  and  for  Mr.  G.  Richards'  distillery 
at  the  corner  of  Factory  and  Perry-streets.  He  has  also  made  a 
boring  at  Holt's  hotel,  corner  of  Pearl  and  Fulton-streets,  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  feet  in  the  earth  and  five  hundred  in  the  rock, 
or  six  hundred  and  thirty  feet  below  the  surface.  The  success  of 
this  operation,  however,  was  not  ascertained  when  this  report  was 
written,  except  that  it  yielded  brackish  water. 

The  next  operation  worthy  of  note,  though  not  effected  by  Mr. 
Disbrow,  is  the  well  sunk  by  the  Corporation  of  this  city,  at  Thir- 
teenth-street. This  well  is  17  feet  in  diameter,  and  113  feet  in 
depth,  with  three  horizontal  excavations  of  four  feet  in  width  and 
six  in  height,  and  extending  from  the  bottom  of  the  well,  in  the 
rock,  two  of  them  seventy-five  and  one  of  them  one  hundred  and 
ten  feet  in  length. 

This  well  produces  about  21,000  gallons  of  water  in  twenty-four 
hours.  The  water,  however,  on  applying  the  usual  test  with  soap, 
proved  hard,  no  foam  being  formed  on  its  surface,  and  to  the  taste 
it  appeared  strongly  impregnated  with  some  mineral  substance, 
which  unfitted  it  for  drink  or  culinary  purposes.*  The  Commis- 
sioners were,  nevertheless,  assured  by  several  members  of  the 
Corporation,  that  before  excavating  the  horizontal  openings  the 


*  See  note  on  the  next  page. 


Doc.  No.  36.]  370 


water  was  as  pure  and  soft  as  that  which  descends  from  the  clouds, 
and  that  the  change  in  its  quality  was  entirely  owing  to  that 
operation. 

The  well  at  Mr.  Richards'  distillery  is  sunk  two  hundred  feet 
through  the  earth  and  rock,  and  yields  about  the  same  quantity  of 
water  as  the  well  sunk  by  the  Corporation. 

The  well  sunk  by  the  Manhattan  Company  the  Commissioners 
consider  a  very  successful  operation.  It  is  442  feet  in  depth,  42 
feet  from  the  surface  to  the  rock,  and  400  feet  in  the  rock.  The 
water  did  not  appear  to  be  perfectly  soft  on  testing  it  with  soap,* 
but  may,  with  much  propriety,  be  pronounced  good  and  wholesome ; 
and  why  it  has  not  been  distributed  to  the  citizens  by  the  Company, 
instead  of  the  disagreeable  and  unwholesome  article  drawn  from 
their  well  in  Reed-street,  is  to  the  Commissioners  unaccountable. 
It  does  not  follow,  however,  because  this  boring  has  succeeded  in 
bringing  up  a  large  supply  of  good  water,  that  all  other  attempts 
will  be  successful.    That  many  of  them  will  fail  in  quantity,  as 


*  Since  writing  the  foregoing  Report,  the  Commissioners  have  received  the 
following  analysis  of  the  water  iaken  from  the  well  in  Bleecker-street,  and  from 
the  Corporation  well  in  Thirteenth-street,  a  quantity  of  each  having  been  fur- 
nished Mr.  Chilton  for  the  purpose  : 

BLEECKER-STREET  WATER. 

By  the  application  of  tests,  this  water  contains  sulphates,  muriates,  carbon- 
ates, iron,  and  vegetable  extract,  in  considerable  quantity. 

One  quart  yielded,  by  evaporation,  20  grains  of  solid  matter,  three-fifths  of 
which  were  soluble  in  water  containing  sulphate  and  muriate  of  soda  and  mag- 
nesia, with  a  little  sulphate  of  lime ;  the  other  two-fifths  consisted  of  carbonate 
of  lime,  carbonate  of  magnesia,  sulphate  of  lime,  iron,  and  extract. 

CORPORATION  WELL. 

This  water  contains  nearly  the  same  ingredients  as  were  found  in  the 
Bleecker-street  water,  but  less  in  quantity.  One  quart  left,  by  evaporation, 
14. 1  grains. 

Note.  If  the  Commissioners  think  it  necessary,  these  waters  can  be  ex- 
amined with  greater  minuteness  and  precision,  as  we  can  command  any  quan- 
tity, they  being  accessible  and  on  the  spot. 

(Signed) 

GEORGE  CHILTON. 

November  11th,  1833. 


371 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


well  as  quality,  is  evident,  we  think,  from  the  results  of  the  Cor- 
poration well.  Before  the  excavations  in  the  horizontal  openings 
in  that  well,  the  water  was  pure  and  soft ;  but  by  extending  one 
of  these  excavations  only  thirty. five  feet  further  in  the  rock  than 
the  others,  it  became  hard  and  unfit  for  ordinary  use  ;  and  there  is 
no  good  reason,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Commissioners,  why  a  boring 
thirty  or  forty  feet  distant  from  the  well  in  Bleecker-street  may 
not  produce  water  equally  unfit  for  use  with  the  well  at  Thirteenth- 
street. 

The  well  at  Bleecker-street  is  said  to  be  capable  of  yielding 
upwards  of  120,000  gallons  in  twenty-four  hours,  while  the  well  at 
Thirteenth-street  only  yields  about  21,000  gallons  in  the  same 
space  of  time.  The  Bleecker-street  well  is  but  seven  inches  in 
diameter,  while  the  Thirteenth-street  well  is  17  feet  in  diameter, 
besides  three  excavations  of  four  feet  wide  and  six  feet  high,  two 
of  them  seventy -five  in  length  and  one  110  feet  in  length.  The 
great  space  of  rock  which  has  been  penetrated  in  excavating  the 
Thirteenth-street  well,  compared  with  that  at  Bleecker-street,  and 
the  disparity  in  the  quantity  of  water  furnished  by  the  former,  when 
compared  with  the  latter,  shows  conclusively  that  the  same  suc- 
cess, which  has  resulted  from  the  boring  at  Bleecker-street,  can- 
not be  expected  to  follow  every  similar  operation  ;  otherwise  the 
supply  at  Thirteenth-street  ought  to  have  been  immeasurably 
greater,  instead  of  so  much  less,  than  that  at  Bleecker-street. 

The  well  sunk  by  the  Corporation  at  Thirteenth-street,  although 
a  very  useful  project,  has  been  a  very  expensive  one  to  the  city, 
having  cost,  including  the  land,  $57,972  38  cents.  The  Commis- 
sioners have  no  data  by  which  to  estimate  the  cost  of  the  Manhat- 
tan well,  if  put  in  a  situation  to  distribute  the  water,  with  engine, 
reservoir,  &c,  similar  to  the  well  in  Thirteenth-street ;  but  they 
have  no  reason  to  think  it  will  be  less  than  that  belonging  to 
the  Corporation.  Nor  can  the  Commissioners  bring  their  minds 
to  the  conclusion,  after  an  impartial  view  of  the  various  experi- 
ments which  have  been  made,  and  the  information  they  have  been 
enabled  to  collect  on  the  subject,  that  the  project  of  boring  for 
water  will  be  more  successful  on  a  general  scale,  either  in  cost  or 
supply,  than  that  of  the  well  at  Thirteenth-street. 

The  Commissioners  estimate  the  present  population  of  this  city  at 
about  250,000  ;  and  as  a  large  portion  of  the  12th  ward  is  under  cul- 
ture, and  will  not  require  an  immediate  supply  of  water,  we  deduct 
3 


372 


[Doc.  No,  36. 


12,000  as  the  probable  population,  leaving  the  population  of  the 
24  lower  wards  at  238,000,  or  for  each  ward  about  17,000  inhabi- 
tants. It  will  require,  therefore,  allowing  twenty-two  gallons  for 
each  person,  374,000  gallons  for  the  daily  consumption  of  each 
ward ;  and,  consequently,  three  such  wells  as  that  on  Bleecker- 
street  to  supply  it,  or  forty-two  in  all,  with  their  steam  engines  in 
constant  operation. 

In  a  financial  point  of  view,  taking  the  Corporation  well  as  a 
data,  it  will  appear,  that  the  annual  expense  to  the  city,  by  the  pro- 
ject of  deep  boring  for  water,  will  be  much  greater  than  for  bring- 
ing it  from  a  distant  source. 

It  has  been  stated,  that  the  Corporation  well  cost  $57,972,  and 
that  it  will  require  42  wells,  yielding  125,000  gallons  daily,  to  sup- 
ply the  present  population. 

42  wells,  including  the  land,  engine,  reservoir,  &c. 

will  amount  to  $2,518,825 

The  interest  on  this  sum  annually,  at  5  per  cent,  will 
amount  to  $125,941 
The  annual  expense  of  working  an  engine  of  12-horse  power,  nighs 

and  day,  is  estimated  as  follows  ; 
42  bushels  of  coal  per  day,  at  21  cents,  for  365  days,  is  3,2111  30 


2  engineers  and  2  assistants,  at  0  dollars  per  day.  2,119  00 

Oil,  tallow,  &c.  at  14  cents  per  day,  51  10 

Wear  and  tear  of  machinery,  at  30  cents  per  day,  109  50 

Annual  expense  of  one  engine,  85,569  90 

The  annual  expense  of  42  engines  will  be  233,935 

Add  the  interest  on  capital,  as  above,  125,941 

Total  annual  expense  for  raising  water  from  wells,  $359,876 


Assuming  the  sum  of  live  millions  of  dollars  as  the  cost  of  bring- 
ing the  Croton  waters  to  the  city,  and  the  interest  on  this  sum  at 
5  per  cent,  will  amount  to  $250,000,  which  is  $109,876  less,  an- 
nually,  than  what  it  will  cost  to  raise  the  water  by  machinery,  if 
the  data  we  have  assumed  be  correct. 

Now,  if  we  were  satisfied  (which  we  are  not)  that  by  the  opera- 
tion of  boring,  a  sufficient  supply  of  water  could  be  obtained,  in 
each  of  the  wards,  to  employ  these  forty. two  steam  engines  in  fill- 


373 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


ing  as  many  reservoirs  with  good  water,  and  that  the  expense 
would  not  exceed  the  bringing  it  from  a  distance,  a  strong  objec- 
tion would  still  arise  to  placing  forty-tico  steam  engines  in  the 
densely  settled  parts  of  the  city,  to  annoy  and  disturb  a  neighbour- 
hood with  the  unceasing  noise  and  clatter  of  the  machinery,  the 
constant  smoke  of  the  furnaces  and  the  incessant  discharge  of  steam; 
thus  depreciating  the  value  of  property  for  a  distance  around,  and 
driving  from  their  vicinity  every  citizen  whose  means  would  per- 
mit him  to  seek  for  more  peaceful  and  comfortable  quarters.  But 
when  we  take  into  consideration  the  uncertainty  of  a  supply,  even 
equal  to  that  now  obtained  from  these  sources,  the  difficulty  and 
expense  of  elevating  the  water  to  a  sufficient  height,  and  the  rea- 
sonable ground  we  have  to  fear  that,  whenever  the  vicinity  of  these 
wells  shall  be  densely  settled,  the  water  will  deteriorate  and  be- 
come unfit  for  use,  there  would  seem  to  be  sufficient  reason  to 
induce  the  Corporation  and  citizens  to  discard  all  reliance  for  a 
sufficient  supply  of  good  water,  on  the  sources  within  the  limits  of 
this  city,  and  to  look  to  a  distant  source,  abundant  in  its  nature, 
and  not  subject  to  doubt  as  to  its  quality,  quantity,  or  practicability 
of  introduction,  and  at  such  an  elevation  as  shall  exclude  the  ne- 
cessity of  using  machinery. 

The  subject  of  supplying  the  city  of  New-York  with  water  is, 
by  no  means,  a  new  project  or  of  recent  date,  for,  as  early  as  1774, 
when  the  population  of  the  city  did  not  exceed  twenty-two  thousand 
inhabitants,  works  were  commenced  on  the  then  high  ground 
to  the  northwest  of  the  Collect  Pond  then  in  existence,  but  now 
filled  up  and  converted  into  building  lots.  Christopher  Collis  was 
the  engineer  to  these  works,  and,  under  the  direction  of  a  commit- 
tee of  the  Common  Council,  he  constructed  a  spacious  reservoir 
on  the  east  line  of  Broadway,  between,  what  is  now  known  as, 
Pearl  and  White-streets,  and  sunk  a  well  of  large  dimensions  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Collect.  For  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expense 
of  the  work,  the  Corporation  issued  a  paper  money,  amounting  to 
two  thousand  five  hundred  pounds,  under  the  denomination  of  water- 
works money,  and  bonds  were  executed  in  favour  of  certain  indi- 
viduals for  land  and  materials  to  the  amount  of  eight  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  more.  The  war  of  the  revolution, 
however,  which  commenced  in  1775,  and  the  consequent  occupation 
of  this  city  by  the  British  troops,  was  the  cause  of  the  abandonment 
of  the  work  in  its  unfinished  state. 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


374 


In  1798  the  Common  Council  appointed  a  committee  to  investi- 
gate the  subject  of  supplying  the  city  with  good  water,  who  re- 
ported as  their  opinion,  that  a  supply  might  be  obtained  from  ihe 
river  Bronx,  and  submitted  a  memoir,  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Joseph 
Brown,  recommending  these  waters. 

In  1799  the  Common  Council  employed  William  Weston,  a  civil 
engineer,  to  examine  the  river  Bronx,  relative  to  bringing  its  waters 
to  the  city,  and  to  report  his  opinion  to  the  Corporation,  with  the 
requisite  plans  and  estimates,  as  soon  as  practicable. 

In  March,  1799,  Mr.  Weston  made  his  report.  He  seems  to 
hold  the  opinion,  that  the  Bronx  will  give  a  supply,  but  furnishes 
no  gauge  of  the  river,  further  than  to  calculate  the  quantity  con- 
tained in  the  Rye  ponds,  its  principal  source  ;  nor  does  he  furnish 
any  estimate  of  the  expense. 

We  find  nothing  on  the  minutes  of  the  Common  Council  on  the 
subject,  until  1822,  owing  probably  to  the  incorporation  of  the  Man- 
hattan  Company,  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  the  second  of 
April,  1799. 

The  avowed  object  of  this  Company  was,  to  supply  the  city  with 
pure  and  wholesome  water ;  but,  instead  of  looking  to  a  foreign 
source  for  a  supply,  as  their  charter  indicated,  they  have  contented 
themselves  with  erecting  their  present  works  on  Chamber  and 
Reed  streets,  and  instead  of  a  supply  of  good  and  wholesome  water, 
they  have  distributed,  and  continue  to  distribute,  an  article,  which 
according  to  an  analysis  made  in  1831,  by  George  Chilton,  esquire, 
contains  one  hundred  and  twenty. five  grains  of  foreign  matter  in 
every  gallon. 

In  1822  the  subject  was  again  brought  to  the  consideration  of 
the  Common  Council,  by  the  Mayor,  and  a  committee  was  appoint- 
ed,  to  which  it  was  referred.  In  the  month  of  March  of  that  year, 
this  committee  reported,  that  they  had  made  a  personal  examina- 
tion of  the  Bronx  river,  and  of  the  lakes  which  form  its  principal 
source,  and  recommend  the  appointment  of  a  civil  engineer  to 
make  surveys,  and  furnish  profiles,  maps  and  estimates  of  the  cost. 

The  Engineer  employed  was  Canvas  White,  esquire,  who  did 
not  report  to  the  Corporation  until  1824.  In  this  report,  Mr. 
White  proposes  taking  the  water  of  the  Bronx  from  the  Westches- 
ter Cotton  Factory  pond.  He  thinks  that  the  natural  flow  of  the 
river,  in  the  driest  season,  will  furnish  3,000,000  gallons  per  day, 
and  by  raising  a  dam  of  six  feet  to  the  upper  Rye  pond,  and  low- 


375 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


enng  the  outlet  two  feet,  3,600,000  gallons  more,  per  day,  may  be 
obtained,  and  thus  a  daily  supply  of  6,600,000  gallons  can  be 
brought  to  the  city  every  twenty. four  hours.  The  cost  of  bringing 
the  water  to  a  reservoir  near  the  Park,  is  estimated  at  $1,949,542. 

Here  the  subject  rested  again  until  1825,  when  the  Legislature 
incorporated  a  company,  by  the  name  of  the  New-York  Water 
Works  Company,  with  authority  to  supply  the  city  with  pure  water. 
Canvas  White,  esquire,  was  also  appointed  Engineer  to  this  Com- 
pany, and  in  his  report  to  the  Directors,  he  recommends  taking  the 
waters  of  the  Bronx  at  Underbill's  bridge  ;  estimates  that  9,100,000 
gallons  of  water  may  be  delivered  in  the  city,  daily,  and  that  the 
whole  expense  will  not  exceed  $1,450,000. 

The  charter  of  this  Company  proved  so  defective  in  practice, 
that  they  were  unable  to  proceed  under  it,  and  they  accordingly 
applied  to  the  Legislature  in  1826  for  an  amendment,  authorizing 
the  Company  to  take  such  of  the  waters,  land  and  materials,  by  ap- 
praisement of  indifferent  persons,  as  might  be  required  for  the 
work.  In  this  application,  however,  they  were  defeated,  by  the 
opposition  of  the  Sharon  Canal  Company,  incorporated  in  1823, 
who  claimed  under  their  charter  all  the  water  on  the  route  of  their 
canal.  The  Water  Works  Company  was  accordingly  dissolved 
in  1827. 

In  1831,  a  committee  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  reported  in  fa- 
vour of  applying  to  the  Legislature  for  an  act,  granting  power  to 
the  Common  Council  to  raise  money  by  loan,  for  the  purpose  of 
introducing  a  supply  of  pure  water  to  the  city.    The  act  was  trans 
mitted  to  the  Legislature,  but  did  not  pass  into  a  law. 

In  1832,  De  Witt  Clinton,  esquire,  Civil  Engineer,  was  employ- 
ed by  the  Common  Council  to  examine  the  route  to  Croton  river, 
and  such  other  sources  in  that  vicinity,  from  which  an  inexhausti- 
ble supply  of  pure  water  may  be  obtained ;  to  report  the  best  plan 
of  crossing  the  Harlem  river,  conducting  the  water  to  the  city,  and 
the  expense  of  the  whole  project. 

In  December,  1832,  Mr.  Clinton  reported  in  favour  of  taking  the 
waters  of  the  Croton  at  Pine's  bridge,  which  he  states  to  be  183 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  Hudson  ;  to  conduct  the  water  in  an 
open  aqueduct  following  the  line  of  the  Croton  and  Hudson  rivers, 
and  cross  Harlem  river  on  an  arch  of  138  feet  high,  and  one  thou- 
sand feet  in  length.    The  whole  cost  he  estimates  at  $2,500,000. 

It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  any  levels  were  run,  or  survey 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


376 


made  by  Mr.  Clinton,  of  the  route  he  recommends ;  but,  that  he 
depended  on  the  information  of  others,  together  with  his  personal 
observation,  for  the  subject  matter  of  his  report. 

In  1833,  the  Common  Council  petitioned  for  the  act,  under  the 
authority  of  which  this  report  is  made,  and  which  became  a  law  of 
this  state,  on  the  26th  of  February,  1833. 

The  foregoing  is  but  a  brief  outline  of  the  various  attempts  which 
have  been  made  to  consummate  this  interesting  object :  and  the 
reason  for  introducing  them  in  this  report,  is,  mainly  to  show,  that 
from  a  very  remote  period  to  the  present  time,  the  project  has  been 
considered  indispensable  to  the  welfare  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
city,  and  that,  as  the  improvements  are  extended,  and  the  popula- 
tion increased,  in  the  same  ratio  will  the  necessity  and  importance 
of  the  measure  increase  in  magnitude. 

So  much  has  been  said  and  written  by  learned  and  scientific 
men,  on  the  utility  and  necessity  of  a  copious  supply  of  pure  and 
wholesome  water,  for  the  use  of  this  large  and  growing  metropolis, 
that  it  may  be  deemed  futile  in  the  Commissioners  to  attempt  any 
additional  observations  on  a  matter,  so  ably  elucidated  by  those 
who  have  gone  before  them.  They  must  claim  the  privilege,  how 
ever,  of  making  a  few  brief  remarks. 

The  necessity  of  a  supply  of  this  indispensable  element  of  con- 
sumption, appears  now  to  be  generally  admitted,  both  as  conducive 
to  the  health  and  prosperity  of  the  city,  as  well  as  to  the  immediate 
comfort  of  its  inhabitants,  and  the  numerous  visitants  on  business  or 
for  other  purposes.  The  daily  use  of  a  fluid,  containing  a  portion 
of  mineral  substance,  which  we  are  assured  by  eminent  practition- 
ers of  medicine,  is  more  or  less  injurious  to  health,  imperceptibly 
undermining  the  whole  animal  system,  and  producing  disease? 
which  either  shortens  life,  or  makes  it  miserable,  is  a  matter  of 
too  much  importance,  not  to  have  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
visitors,  as  well  as  the  residents  of  this  city. 

It  is  a  fact  also,  which  the  Commissioners  presume  will  not  be 
disputed,  that  the  whole  state  is  deeply  interested  in  the  health  and 
prosperity  of  this  city,  both  as  a  market  for  its  produce,  and  a  mart 
at  which  the  merchandise  of  every  quarter  of  the  globe  may  be 
obtained.  One  season  of  epidemic  disease,  therefore,  by  which 
the  inhabitants  of  other  parts  of  the  state  shall  be  deprived  of  this 
market,  whether  it  be  for  the  sale  of  the  agricultural  products  of 
the  country,  or  for  a  supply  of  domestic  and  foreign  articles  of  use 


377 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


and  consumption,  would  be  of  more  real  injury,  in  the  aggregate, 
than  the  expense  of  carrying  the  project,  of  supplying  this  city  with 
pure  and  wholesome  water,  into  effect,  will  cost.  No  facility, 
therefore,  which  the  Legislature  can  consistently  grant  in  further- 
ance of  this  necessary  project,  ought  to  be  withheld. 

In  a  domestic  point  of  view,  and  relative  to  the  general  health 
of  the  city,  in  which  every  man,  woman  or  child  is  interested,  as 
well  those  who  are  still  blessed  with  a  supply  of  good  water  in  their 
vicinity  as  those  who  are  not,  the  subject  is  of  the  first  importance. 
In  this  point  of  view,  the  benefits  from  a  sufficient  and  copious  sup- 
ply of  water,  for  the  purpose  of  washing  the  streets,  gutters,  and 
sewers,  are  incalculable.  By  bringing  the  water  to  the  city  at  a 
proper  elevation,  bathing  establishments  may  be  supplied  on 
moderate  terms,  as  well  in  private  houses,  as  in  those  of  public 
resort.  Fountains  may  be  opened  in  the  public  squares  at  a  trifling 
expense,  improving  the  atmosphere,  and  thus  promoting  the  general 
health  and  comfort  of  all.  The  occurrence  of  pestilence  may  be 
prevented,  or  at  least  very  much  mitigated  in  its  severity  ;  the  pros- 
perity of  the  city  advanced;  the  interest  of  those  who  depend  on 
the  metropolis  of  the  state  as  a  market  for  their  produce,  promot- 
ed, and  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  posterity  secured. 

For  the  extinguishment  of  fires,  the  benefits  of  an  adequate  sup- 
ply of  water  must  be  self-evident,  not  only  in  preventing  the  de- 
struction of  a  vast  amount  of  property,  but  in  the  preservation  of 
the  lives  as  well  as  the  health  of  our  firemen  and  others,  and  the 
total  ruin  in  many  instances  of  those  who  are  the  subjects  of  the 
calamity.  The  advantages  which  have  resulted  from  the  partial 
supply  of  water  from  the  Corporation  well  at  Thirteenth-street,  for 
this  purpose,  has  been  such  as  to  warrant  the  belief,  should  a  suf- 
ficient supply  of  water  be  procured  and  conducted  through  all  the 
streets  of  the  city,  that  several  hundred  thousand  dollars  would  be 
annually  saved  by  the  operation. 

In  addition  to  all  these  benefits,  with  many  others  not  enumera- 
ted, there  would  be  saved  to  the  owners  of  real  estate  the  expense 
of  building  cisterns  for  the  reception  of  rain  water,  and  the  digging 
of  wells  for  the  production  of  pump  water,  together  with  a  large 
reduction  of  the  premium  now  paid  for  insuring  against  loss  by  fire. 

The  utility  of  the  measure  being  acknowledged,  as  the  Commis- 
sioners have  reason  to  believe  it  is,  by  a  large  majority  of  the 
citizens,  the  only  questions  of  importance  which  can  arise  on  the 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


378 


subject,  are,  first,  the  source  from  which  the  water  is  to  be  brought ; 
second,  the  manner  of  bringing  it;  and  third,  the  difficulties  to  be 
encountered,  and  the  expense  of  the  project. 

With  the  information  in  the  possession  of  the  Corporation,  should 
they  decide  to  carry  the  project  into  effect,  the  first  and  second 
consideration  may  be  safely  entrusted  to  the  judgment  of  those  who 
shall  be  selected  to  superintend  and  direct  the  operations.  The 
difficulties  to  be  encountered,  are  much  less,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
Commissioners,  than  those  which  have  been  overcome,  both  in  this 
country  and  Europe.  The  deep  cuttings  and  embankments  on  the 
Erie  canal,  are  far  greater  than  any  thing  which  occurs  on  the 
line  by  which  it  is  proposed  to  bring  the  water  to  this  city  ;  and 
were  it  necessary,  numerous  internal  improvements  might  be  re- 
ferred to,  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States,  both  on  the  canals 
and  rail-roads,  where  greater  obstacles  have  been  overcome,  than 
any  we  have  to  contend  with.  In  Europe,  instances  are  in  abun- 
dance, where  insurmountable  difficulties,  in  appearance,  were 
overcome.  In  the  construction  of  New  River  Water  WTorks,  at 
London,  the  water  is  brought  by  a  winding  course  forty-two  miles, 
crosses  several  valleys  of  considerable  extent,  and  in  one  instance 
runs  in  a  subterraneous  channel  for  600  feet  beneath  a  street  of  the 
city.  The  original  shares  in  this  company  was  one  hundred 
pounds  each  ;  they  are  now  said  to  be  worth  one  thousand  pounds 
each.  For  the  purpose  of  introducing  good  water  into  the  city  of 
Edinburgh,  a  great  bank  was  constructed  across  a  valley,  450  feet 
at  the  base,  and  120  feet  in  height,  which  increased  the  cost  of 
the  work  at  least  one  third.  The  aqueduct  by  which  the  water  is 
conveyed  to  the  city,  is,  at  one  point,  carried  along  an  artificial 
embankment  40  feet  above  the  natural  surface  of  the  earth.  In 
another,  a  tunnel  was  necessary  80  feet  below  the  surface,  and  in 
another,  the  solid  rock  was  excavated,  forming  a  subterraneous 
passage  of  700  feet  in  length.  Now,  if  this  city,  with  its  popula- 
tion  of  150  thousand,  was  willing  to  encounter  the  difficulties  above 
noted,  with  a  view  of  providing  for  a  supply  of  pure  water,  how 
much  more  ought  the  city  of  New-York,  with  its  250,000  inhabi- 
tants,'be  willing  to  encounter  the  few  obstacles  which  appear  in  the 
way  of  consummating  alike  object? 

As  to  the  cost,  necessarily  large,  owing  to  the  situation 
and  construction  of  the  island  on  which  the  city  is  built,  and 
the  distance  from  which  the  water  is  to  be  brought,  there  cannot 


379 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


be  a  doubt,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Commissioners,  but  that  the  ope- 
ration will  prove  a  saving  concern,  if  properly  and  judiciously 
conducted,  and  eventually,  when  the  population  of  the  city  shall 
have  reached  its  maximum,  result  in  great  profit  to  the  proprietors. 

This  state  has  the  honour  of  being  pioneer  in  the  great  improve- 
ments of  intercourse  by  canals  and  rail  roads,  and  the  project  under 
consideration,  although  not  of  such  general  interest  as  the  others, 
is  nevertheless,  in  some  points  of  view,  equally  important  ;  and,  if 
effected,  will  be  creditable  to  the  state  as  well  as  to  the  city.  In  this 
respect,  therefore,  the  subject  recommends  itself  to  the  favourable 
consideration  both  of  the  Corporation  and  of  the  Legislature. 

An  accurate  map  has  been  drawn  of  the  country,  in  which  the 
head- waters  of  the  Croton,  Sawmill,  Bronx,  and  Byram  rivers,  are 
situated,  designating  the  lines  which  have  been  run  by  the  Engi- 
neer, and  the  proposed  routes  for  conducting  the  water  to  the  city  ; 
also,  profiles  of  the  elevations  and  depressions  of  the  country  on 
the  line  of  the  conduits,  both  of  the  interior  and  river  route  ;  and 
an  accurate  exhibit  of  the  gauges  of  the  several  streams  ;  also,  a 
representation  of  the  form  of  the  conduits  through  which  it  is  in- 
tended the  waters  shall  pass  to  the  city  ;  and  of  several  aque- 
duct bridges,  constructed  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  of  much 
greater  magnitude  than  the  one  proposed  to  be  thrown  over  the 
Harlem  river.  All  these  maps,  drawings,  &c.  have  been  deposited 
in  the  office  of  the  Street  Commissioner,  and  await  the  direction  of 
the  Common  Council. 


All  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 


STEPHEN  ALLEN, 
SAUL  ALLEY, 
WILLIAM  W.  FOX, 
CHAS.  DUSENBERRY, 
BENJAMIN  M.  BROWN, 


1 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


380 


LETTER  FROM  CANVASS  WHITE,  ESQ, 


New-York,  October  30th,  1833. 

To  the  Water  Commissioners  > 
for  the  City  of  New-York.  $ 

Gentlemen, 

When  I  received  from  you  the  appointment  as  one 
of  the  engineers  for  making  the  surveys  and  examinations  for  sup- 
plying the  city  with  pure  and  wholesome  water,  I  presumed  that  I 
should,  in  the  course  of  the  season,  be  able  to  discharge  the  duties 
assigned  me  ;  but  the  peculiar  situation  of  the  important  public 
works,  under  my  care  in  the  state  of  New-Jersey,  being  procras- 
tinated by  the  unprecedented  floods,  prevented  my  making  such 
further  examinations  as  was  desirable.  I  was,  however,  twice  on 
the  ground,  with  my  assistants,  and  made  some  progress  in  gaug- 
ing the  waters  of  the  Croton  river ;  but  the  storms  compelled  me 
to  desist,  and  repair  to  my  charge  in  New-Jersey ;  and  thus  the 
season  has  passed  away  without  being  able  to  accomplish  the  de- 
sirable object  within  the  stipulated  time. 

I  have  for  several  years  felt  a  deep  interest  in  the  subject  of 
supplying  the  city  with  good  water,  and  regret  very  much  that  my 
arduous  duties  have  prevented  my  making  such  examinations  this 
season  as  I  had  a  strong  desire  to  do,  and,  of  course,  expected  of 
me  by  the  Commissioners.  I  hope  the  disappointment  may  not  be 
injurious  to  the  discharge  of  the  trust  reposed  in  you,  and  that  you 
will  be  able  to  make  a  satisfactory  report,  from  personal  observa- 
tion and  information  gained  from  other  sources. 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 


CANVASS  WHITE. 


381 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


ENGINEER'S  REPORT. 


Hon.  Stephen  Allen,  Chairman, 
Saul  Alley, 
Wm.  W.  Fox, 
Benjn.  M.  Brown,  and 


Commissioners  for  making  ex- 
aminations relative  to  the  sup- 
ply of  the  City  with  pure  and 
wholesome  Water. 


CflAS.  DUSENBERRY,  EsqrS.  / 

Gentlemen, 

In  laying  before  you  the  drafts  and  plans  connected  with  the 
surveys  and  examinations,  upon  which  I  have  been  engaged  during 
the  season,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  communicate  a  summary  report 
of  the  operations  of  the  survey  and  of  the  results  and  conclusions 
to  which  they  lead. 

Our  field  operations  commenced  early  in  the  month  of  June — 
having  myself  devoted  the  early  part  of  the  month  to  a  general  re- 
connoissance  of  the  ground.  I  collected  the  party  on  the  20th  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Croton,  and  began  the  instrumental  survey.  The 
starting  point  for  the  level  was  taken  at  the  ordinary  low  water  of 
the  Hudson  at  that  place,  from  which  we  ascended  immediately  up 
the  side  hill  to  the  height  of  170  feet,  which  was  assumed  as  the 
average  of  our  first  trial  in  the  valley  of  the  Croton.  The  line,  in 
the  first  instance,  was  conducted  up  along  the  south  bank  of  the 
stream,  harmonizing  much  better  than  I  expected  with  the  broken 
ground  at  the  mouth  of  the  Croton.  At  Garretson's  mill,  however, 
the  slope  of  the  bank  became  so  difficult,  by  reason  of  the  precipi- 
tous ledges  of  rock,  that  it  became  necessary  to  transfer  to  the 
opposite  side,  and  the  remainder  of  our  line  was  continued  on  that 
side  until  it  struck  the  bed  of  the  river.  This  it  did  at  Wood's 
bridge,  near  the  confluence  of  Cross  river,  about  12  miles  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Croton  ;  the  surface  of  the  water,  at  the  bridge, 
being  169.65  feet.  From  this  point  the  line  was  carried,  without 
regarding  any  particular  average,  up  the  north  bank  of  the  river, 
through  Somers  town  and  the  valley  of  the  west  branch  of  the  Cro- 
ton, to  a  point  about  two  miles  above  the  county  line,  where  a 
height  of  230  feet  was  attained  in  the  first  instance,  and  this  subse- 


Doc.  No.  36.]  382 


quently  increased  to  300  by  the  continuation  of  the  line  to  the  out- 
let  of  Crosby's  pond,  up  which  a  trial  was  also  made  to  the  pond 
itself.  From  the  line  thus  traced  offsets  were  carried,  in  the  pro- 
gress of  the  survey,  up  the  middle  and  east  branches  of  the  Croton 
and  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  former,  rising,  in  each  case,  to 
about  290  feet — and  a  line,  for  connecting  these  surveys  with  those 
of  the  lower  Croton,  was  run,  by  way  of  trial,  down  the  left  bank 
of  the  river,  from  Owensville  to  Wood's  bridge.  In  the  latter  vici- 
nity an  offset  line  was  carried  up  the  Muscoot  to  Bedel's  millpond, 
at  the  height  of  283  feet ;  others,  up  Cross  river  and  its  tributaries, 
the  Beaver  dam  and  Broad  brook ;  and  another,  by  the  valley  of 
Muddy  brook,  up  the  Cisco  ;  and  the  connection  of  this  last  down 
the  valley  of  the  Cisco  itself,  and  by  the  left  bank  of  the  Croton  to 
Wood's  and  Pine's  bridges,  completed  the  arduous  but  highly  in- 
teresting examination  of  these  waters  ;  the  gauging  only  being 
reserved  for  a  drier  period  of  the  season. 

It  will  be  proper  to  remark  in  this  place,  that  the  lines  just  des- 
cribed, and  all  other  lines  instrumentally  surveyed,  are  indicated 
on  the  map  by  a  red  trace ;  the  stations  being  numbered,  in  part, 
so  as  to  tally  with  the  numbers  of  the  field  books. 

The  next  object  of  our  attention  was,  to  examine  the  grounds 
south  of  the  Croton,  with  a  view  of  obtaining  practical  routes  in 
the  direction  of  the  city.  A  very  brief  reconnoissance,  in  the  first 
instance,  was  sufficient  to  show,  that  among  the  deeply  undulating 
and  apparently  irregular  hills  of  this  region  are  contained  the  ru- 
diments of  a  great  ridge,  dividing  the  waters  of  the  Croton  from 
those  running  south,  and  only  intersected  here  and  there  by  certain 
defiles,  in  which  the  streams  of  both  slopes  take  their  rise.  In 
the  first  of  these  defiles,  passing  from  the  Hudson  eastward,  the 
stream  of  Sleepy  Hollow  running  south,  and  a  small  mill  stream, 
which  empties  into  the  Croton  below  Pine's  bridge,  running  in  the 
opposite  direction,  head  together.  In  another,  a  branch  of  the  Cisco 
and  Sawmill  river — in  another,  another  branch  of  the  Cisco  and 
the  Bronx — in  another,  the  Cisco  itself  and  the  Wampus — and  in 
others,  farther  east,  the  branches  of  the  beaver  dam  and  various 
waters  of  Long-Island  Sound.  It  became  necessary  to  explore  all 
these,  as  well  as  the  ground  at  the  mouth  of  the  Croton  and  along 
the  margin  of  the  Hudson,  with  reference  to  our  object. 

Without  authentic  information  in  the  early  stages  of  our  work, 
there  was  a  remote  possibility  of  finding  a  pass  among  the  eastern. 


383 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


most  of  the  waters  mentioned,  viz.  the  branches  of  the  beaver  dam. 
But  in  exploring  these,  as  tributaries  and  feeders  of  the  Croton, 
this  question  was  soon  put  to  rest.  It  became  evident,  that  no 
practicable  pass  could  be  obtained  in  that  direction. 

The  next  line  examined  was  that  of  the  main  Cisco  and  Wampus, 
which  was  levelled  over  from  Newcastle  to  Wampus  pond,  with 
the  following  results  : 

Kirby's  millpond  on  the  Cisco,       344.049  feet  above  0. 
Dividing  ridge  near  Wampus,        479.055  do. 
Surface  of  water  in  Wampus  pond,  453.469  do. 
Distance  from  Kirby's  to  Wampus,       2|  miles. 

These  heights  being  greatly  above  those  to  which  I  had  gene- 
rally limited  my  examinations  on  the  Croton,  this  route  was,  of 
course,  given  up. 

The  instruments  were  next  placed  upon  the  line  which  leads  to 
the  head  of  the  Bronx  by  the  middle  branch  of  the  Cisco  ;  but  upon 
running  up  the  latter  to  the  height  of  374  feet,  and  rinding  it  still 
a  competent  mill  stream  at  a  distance  from  the  dividing  point,  and 
with  a  considerable  fall  therefrom,  this  route  was  also  abandoned. 

We  come  next  to  the  defile,  which  leads  by  the  west  branch  of 
the  Cisco  into  the  valley  of  the  Sawmill  river,  and  here  it  was  our 
happiness  to  find  a  very  considerable  amelioration  in  the  character 
of  the  ground.  The  bed  of  the  valley  is  remarkably  uniform  in 
shape  and  direction,  having  no  immediate  indication  of  rock  near 
the  surface,  except  towards  the  south  part  of  the  defile,  and  of 
sufficient  width  for  any  mode  of  construction  which  it  might  be 
thought  proper  to  adopt.  Its  elevation,  although  sufficiently  great 
in  comparison  with  that  of  the  Croton  and  its  branches  to  present 
a  question  of  some  interest  to  the  mind  of  the  Engineer,  was  not 
considered  such  as  to  preclude  the  location  of  a  practicable  route, 
and  this  view  being  confirmed  in  the  progress  of  our  examination, 
it  has  been  adopted,  and  is  presented  on  the  map  as  one  of  the  lo- 
cations for  our  aqueduct  line.  Its  discussion  will  be  resumed  as 
soon  as  we  shall  have  completed  our  detail  of  the  operations  of  the 
survey. 

The  line  from  Pine's  bridge,  in  the  direction  of  Sleepy  Hollow, 
was  enumerated  as  deserving  some  consideration.  Upon  trial, 
however,  with  the  instruments,  it  proved  to  be  nearly  twenty  feet 
higher  than  the  last  mentioned,  holding  out  to  a  more  considerable 
distance  in  each  direction,  without  any  great  diminution  in  height, 


Doc.  No.  36.]  384 


and  with  a  regular  substratum  of  solid  rock  immediately  beneath 
the  soil.  It  was,  of  course  given  up.  In  addition  to  the  above,  it 
was  hoped  in  the  early  stages  of  the  survey,  that  a  line  might  be 
obtained  among  the  ravines  immediately  back  of  Sing  Sing,  so  as 
to  cut  off  the  broken  ground  near  the  mouth  of  the  Croton ;  but, 
after  some  time  and  labour  devoted  to  the  examination  of  that  vici- 
nity, it  was  given  up  as  impracticable. 

The  line  by  the  mouth  of  the  Croton  and  along  the  margin  of 
the  Hudson,  was  the  only  one  remaining  to  be  examined  in  con- 
nexion  with  the  Croton  waters.  This  was  resumed  near  the  point 
where  our  operations  were  first  commenced,  and  carried  down- 
ward along  the  face  of  the  slope  of  the  river,  sometimes  on  the  im- 
mediate margin  of  the  Hudson,  but  often  with  a  view  of  obtaining 
better  ground,  cutting  into  the  valleys  farther  inland.  This  route 
nowhere  presented  any  difficulties  involving  the  question  of  prac- 
ticability, as  it  was  always  possible  to  turn  the  flank  of  any  obstacle 
on  the  side  next  the  river.  But  in  doing  this  it  became  important 
to  guard  against  abrupt  sinuosities,  which  would  increase  the  ex- 
pense of  construction  by  the  increment  of  length,  beyond  the  limit 
of  any  countervailing  advantage.  It  became  necessary,  therefore, 
in  almost  every  step  of  our  progress  down  this  line,  to  discuss  ques- 
tions of  detail ;  and  the  necessity  of  making  frequent  collateral 
trials  and  examinations,  with  reference  to  this  object,  rendered  our 
progress  comparatively  slow. 

The  first  important  question  of  this  kind,  after  leaving  the  broken 
ground  at  the  mouth  of  the  Croton  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Sing-Sing,  occurred  at  the  passage  of  the  Mill  river  and  Sleepy 
Hollow,  near  Tarrytown ;  and  several  days  were  spent  in  labo- 
rious examinations  at  this  point,  before  a  satisfactory  location  was 
obtained. 

The  next  question  of  a  similar  kind,  related  to  the  transfer  of  the 
line  from  the  margin  of  the  Hudson  into  the  valley  of  the  Sawmill 
river,  for  which  purpose  several  trials  were  made,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  red  lines  on  the  map,  between  Tarrytown  and  Yonkers. 
This  object  being  at  length  attained,  and  our  line  transferred  to 
the  east  bank  of  Sawmill  river,  the  next  general  object  of  our  ex- 
amination was  to  ascertain  the  continuity  of  the  high  ground,  by 
which  to  sustain  our  level  line  in  the  direction  of  the  city.  In  this 
respect,  the  ridge  nearest  the  Hudson,  below  Yonkers,  failed  en- 
tirely, and  it  became  necessary  to  penetrate  into  the  valley  of  Tib- 


385  [Doc.  No.  36. 


bet3s  brook,  and  gain  the  ridge  east  of  that  stream.  This  after 
many  trials  was  happily  accomplished,  and  the  survey  then  pro- 
ceeded, without  further  interruption,  to  the  crossing  of  Harlem 
river. 

Before  arriving  at  this  point,  however,  with  our  Croton  lines,  a 
digression  had  been  made  from  the  valley  of  Sawmill  river,  near 
Unionville  church,  into  that  of  the  Bronx,  and  extended  up  the  lat- 
ter, so  as  to  embrace  a  full  survey  of  the  Rye  ponds,  and  a  line 
from  these  to  Byram  river.  These  examinations  were  afterwards 
carried  down  the  valley  of  the  Bronx,  and  resulted  in  a  location, 
commencing  at  Popham's  Calico  Factory ;  this  being  the  lowest 
point  at  which  it  was  found  practicable  to  take  the  waters  of  this 
river,  so  as  to  deliver  them  at  the  requisite  height  in  the  city  with- 
out the  intervention  of  machinery. 

Other  routes  originating  at  lower  points  on  the  Bronx,  and  which 
of  course  would  require  the  aid  of  an  extraneous  elevating  power, 
were  not  examined  further  than  to  survey  with  great  care  the  water 
power  of  the  Harlem  river,  which  being  found  inadequate  to  the 
performance  which  any  feasible  location  upon  this  principle  would 
require,  further  examinations  were  deemed  unnecessary.  I  shall 
return  again  to  this  subject  in  the  following  part  of  this  report,  and 
I  trust  it  will  be  seen,  that  while  I  have  given  to  it  every  consid- 
eration which  its  importance  in  the  public  estimation  required,  I 
have  endeavoured  to  do  so  with  the  utmost  deference  to  the  highly 
respectable  authorities,  by  which  these  routes  have  been  recom- 
mended. 

Our  two  lines  from  the  Croton  closed  upon  each  other  in  the 
valley  of  the  Sawmill  river,  near  the  intersection  of  the  Tuckahoe 
road.  That  from  the  Bronx  united  with  them  on  the  heights  of 
Fordham,  and  from  this  point  a  single  line  across  Harlem  river 
established  the  connexion  of  the  three  with  the  city.  This  con- 
necting line  was  closed  on  the  city  plat,  at  the  corner  of  119th 
street  and  Tenth  Avenue,  finishing  the  labours  of  the  party  as 
such  on  the  fourth  of  September ;  and  the  balance  of  the  week 
devoted  by  myself  to  the  gauging  of  the  streams^  and  the  examina- 
tion of  the  head  waters  of  the  Croton,  brought  the  field  duties  of 
the  survey  to  a  final  close. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  course  of  the  examination  thus  detailed, 
that  all  the  routes  from  the  Croton  except  two,  were  disposed  of  in 
the  first  trials.    We  now  proceed  to  a  more  particular  examina- 


Doc.  No.  36.]  386 


tion  of  these  two,  referring  as  occasion  requires  to  their  respective 
delineations  on  the  map. 

THE  IXLAiYD,  OR  SAWMILL  BIVER  ROUTE. 

In  the  course  of  the  examinations,  with  a  view  to  determine  the 
practicability  of  this  route,  my  attention  was  drawn  to  a  natural 
basin  of  solid  rock,  in  an  elevated  and  remarkably  central  position 
near  Mechanicsville,  or  Wood's  bridge.  Its  height  is  about  268 
feet  above  our  zero,  and  the  view  from  it  suggests  at  once  the  im- 
portant and  interesting  relation  in  which  it  stands  (with  reference 
to  our  present  object)  to  the  waters  of  the  Muscoot,  Cross  and 
Beaver  dam,  as  well  as  to  those  of  the  main  Croton.  This  posi- 
tion was  accordingly  chosen  as  the  location  of  a  reservoir,  marked 
on  the  map  as  the  confluent  reservoir,  calculated  to  receive  the 
waters  of  the  streams  mentioned  by  means  of  iron  feed  pipes  of 
the  largest  size.  The  location  of  these  pipes  is  indicated  on  the 
map  by  purple  lines,  radiating  in  their  respective  directions  from 
the  confluent  reservoir,  and  terminating  with  small  fountain-head 
reservoirs  in  the  beds  of  the  streams  to  which  they  belong. 

The  Muscoot  pipe,'  for  example,  radiates  from  the  west  side  of 
the  confluent  reservoir,  and  passing  up  the  valley  of  the  Muscoot, 
terminates  on  the  reservoir  marked  H,  at  the  distance  of  three  and 
one-eighth  miles. 

The  Cross  river  pipe  in  like  manner  passes  from  the  east  side  of 
the  confluent  reservoir,  and  terminates  at  the  reservoir  marked  E, 
in  the  bed  of  Cross  river,  three  miles  distant. 

The  Beaver  dam  pipe,  one  and  seven-eighths  miles  long,  unites 
the  reservoir  of  that  stream,  marked  F,  with  the  confluent  reser- 
voir, and  a  branch  three-fourths  of  a  mile  long  receives  the  waters 
of  the  Broad  brook  reservoir,  marked  G. 

The  main  Croton  pipe,  crossing  Cross  river,  runs  up  the  valley 
of  the  Croton,  and  terminates  in  a  reservoir  on  the  west  branch, 
marked  C,  at  the  distance  of  nine  and  three-quarter  miles  from 
the  confluent  reservoir,  having  a  branch  pipe  of  two  miles  leading 
up  Middle  brook  to  the  reservoir  D,  and  another  of  two  and  a  half 
miles  may  be  run  up  the  east  branch  to  the  reservoir  I,  if  it  should 
be  thought  advisable  to  take  in  that  branch. 

These  pipes,  I  observe  again,  are  calculated  to  conduct  the  wa- 
ters of  their  different  fountains  into  the  confluent  reservoir ;  the 
water  surface  of  the  latter  being  assumed  at  270  feet  above  tide, 


387 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


and  the  different  Fountain  Reservoirs  in  such  a  relation  of  height  as 
to  ensure  a  head  of  from  three  to  four  feet  per  mile  in  each  branch. 
The  Confluent  Reservoir  not  being  intended  for  the  storage  of  the 
water,  as  many  positions  better  adapted  to  that  object  occur  in  the 
progress  of  the  line,  is  calculated  at  about  two  and  a  half  chains 
square,  nearly  two-thirds  of  an  acre  ;  but  the  locality  admits  of  a 
construction,  if  such  should  be  thought  necessary,  embracing  an 
area  of  two  acres.  Other  positions  than  that  here  chosen  were 
viewed  in  the  same  vicinity,  with  a  favourable  impression  of  their 
advantages,  for  the  purpose  mentioned,  and  it  is  not  improbable 
that  in  the  minute  survey  of  the  ground  preparatory  to  an  actual 
location,  some  improvements  may  bo  made  in  the  location  of  the 
pipes.  The  principle,  however,  will  not  materially  vary,  and  the 
general  conclusions,  which  are  drawn  from  the  system  as  described, 
will  be  equally  predicable  of  any  modification  of  it 

The  supply  of  water  that  may  be  obtained  at  the  Confluent  Re- 
servoir, by  this  system  of  feeders,  deserves  particular  attention  be- 
fore we  proceed  to  the  subsequent  constructions  of  this  route.  The 
quantities  running  in  the  different  streams  enumerated,  at  the  low- 
est season  of  the  present  year,  were  ascertained  by  gauging  with 
great  care,  on  the  fourth,  fifth  and  sixth  of  September.  There 
had  not  at  that  time  been  an  entire  rainy  day  in  the  vicinity  since 
the  third  of  July,  and  as  a  considerable  rain  occurred  almost  imme- 
diately after,  it  is  presumed  that  the  quantities  then  running  were 
a  fair  minimum  of  the  present  year's  supply.  The  results  were  as 
follows : 

Muscoot,  3,628,800  galls,  per  diem. 

Cross  river,  9,142,400 

Beaver  dam  and  Broad  brook,  4,963,480 

Cisco,  2,073,600 

W est  branch  of  Croton  5,287,680 

Middle  do.  do.  1,252,000 

East     do.  do.  6,155,800 


Total,  32,503,760  galls,  per  diem. 

The  testimony  of  the  inhabitants  as  to  the  state  of  the  streams 
at  the  time  of  gauging,  compared  with  that  of  other  seasons,  was, 
that  the  waters  were  "  very  low — seldom  lower,"  and  according  to 
5 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


388 


the  statement  of  some,  u  never."  The  great  drought  of  1816  was 
the  only  one  which  was  generally  excepted  in  the  comparison  o>. 
seasons ;  and  from  the  marks  and  indications  shown  me  of  the  state 
of  the  waters  at  that  time,  I  was  led  to  infer  that  they  might  have 
been  fifteen,  possibly  twenty  percent,  lower  than  at  the  time  ot 
my  examination.  It  was  said  indeed  that  the  Croton  might  have 
been  crossed  during  that  season  without  wetting  the  feet ;  but  this 
amounts  to  nothing :  it  could  be  said  with  truth  of  much  larger 
streams,  and  might  have  been  done  at  many  places  on  the  Croton 
at  the  time  I  gauged  it,  when  there  were  certainly  not  less  than 
fifty  millions  of  gallons  daily  rolling  down  it.  The  shores  of  the 
Croton  and  its  branches  have  been  so  long  cleared  up  and  culti- 
vated, that  it  is  not  probable  the  supply  of  water  will  hereafter  un- 
dergo any  considerable  variation  from  further  improvements;  and 
the  allowance  of  one-fifth,  therefore,  on  the  foregoing  results,  to 
meet  an  extraordinary  state  of  the  waters,  such  as  that  in  18,16, 
must  be  considered  as  sufficiently  cautious  for  any  possible  con* 
tingency. 

The  results  reduced  in  this  ratio  will  be  found  as  follows  : 

Muscoot,  2,903,040  galls,  per  diem. 


Twenty-six  millions  of  gallons,  therefore,  may  safely  be  calculated 
upon  as  the  daily  running  supply  of  the  streams  mentioned,  without 
including  the  amount  to  be  obtained  by  storage  on  the  numerous 
lakes  and  spring-water  ponds  connected  therewith.  The  number 
of  these  is  almost  incredible.  I  visited  seventeen  of  them  in  the 
course  of  three  days  ;  of  which,  twelve  furnish  a  superficial  area 
of  more  than  three  thousand  acres,  and  would  yield,  with  a  dispos- 
able head  of  only  four  feet,  an  additional  supply  of  twenty  millions 
of  gallons  daily  for  six  months  of  drought ;  that  is  to  say,  eleven 
millions  from  the  reservoirs  of  Cross  river  and  the  Muscoot,  and 


Cross  river, 

Beaver  dam  and  Broad  brook, 
Cisco, 

West  branch  of  Croton, 
Middle  do.  do. 
East      do.  do. 


7,313,920 
3,970,784 
1,658,880 
4,230,144 
1,001,600 
4,923,640 


Total, 


26,002,008  galls,  per  diem. 


389 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


the  residue  from  those  of  the  upper  Croton.  The  adequacy  of  the 
supply  ceases  to  be  a  questiou  in  view  of  these  facts. 

The  miil  improvements,  embraced  within  the  range  of  the  works 
proposed,  and  which  might  be  injuriously  affected  thereby,  are,  with 
the  exception  of  those  on  the  east  branch  of  the  Croton  and  that 
at  the  mouth  of  Cross  river,  very  inconsiderable  indeed.  They 
consist  of  two  small  mills  (Bedel's)  propelled  from  one  pond  on  the 
Muscoot;  four  altogether  on  Cross  river,  of  which  Jay's  giistmiil 
and  the  establishment  at  Mechanicsville  are  the  most  valuable — a 
sawmill  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Croton,  and  the  establishments 
of  Messrs.  Owen,  Finch  &  Brown,  near  Owensville  on  the  east 
branch  ;  these  last  being  by  far  the  most  valuable  of  those  enu- 
merated. The  views  of  supply  would  probably  not  comprehend 
all  these  for  a  long  time  to  come,  and  only  a  partial  injury  would 
generally  be  sustained  by  those  so  comprehended.  The  amount 
of  indemnity,  therefore,  cannot  be  very  great  in  a  country  abound- 
ing with  unimproved  water  power,  as  the  valley  of  the  Croton  does. 
Further  information  can  be  furnished  on  this  subject  in  a  separate 
communication  :  but,  in  the  mean  time,  I  have  included  in  the  fol- 
lowing estimate  an  item  believed  to  be  amply  sufficient  for  this 
purpose,  and  for  the  purchase  of  such  other  water-rights  as  are 
contemplated  in  the  scheme  of  this  route. 

The  expense  attending  the  construction  of  the  different  feeders 
enumerated  is  summed  up  as  follows,  viz. 
Muscoot  feeder  (3^-  miles  long)  including  dam,  aque- 
duct, &c.  268,500 
Cross  river  feeder  (3  miles  long)  do.       do.        do.  263,000 
Beaver  dam  feeder  and  branches  do.        do.       do.  229,500 


Indemnities,  water-rights,  &c. 
Contingencies, 


$761,000 
43,500 
50,000 


Total  expense  of  delivering  the  lower  Croton  waters 


into  the  confluent  reservoir, 


$854,500 


Upper  Croton  and  branches,  14^  miles,  including  dams, 


Aqueducts,  &c. 
Indemnities,  water-rights,  Sic. 
Contingencies, 


1,155,000 
57,000 
65,000 


Total  for  the  waters  of  the  upper  Croton, 


$1,277,000 


Doc.  No.  36  j 


390 


From  the  Confluent  Reservoir  an  aqueduct  is  located  along  the 
slope  of  the  Beaver  dam  valley  into  that  of  Muddy  brook,  from  the 
head  of  which  it  passes  into  the  valley  of  the  Cisco,  by  a  cut  of  a 
mile  in  length,  averaging  18  feet  deep.  Thence  crossing  the  main 
Cisco  it  follows  up  the  west  branch  to  its  head,  and  by  a  long  deep 
cut  debouches  into  the  valley  of  Sawmill  river.  According  to  the 
arrangement  of  our  grade,  allowing  one  foot  fall  per  mile  from  the 
Confluent  Reservoir,  this  cut  takes  a  length  of  about  three  miles, 
commencing  and  ending  at  the  depth  of  20  feet.  Its  average 
depth,  on  that  distance,  is  38  feet,  with  an  extreme  of  55  feet  at 
the  dividing  ridge. 

Undoubtedly  this  cutting  constitutes  the  chief  difficulty  of  this 
ocation  ;  but,  if  regarded  with  reference  to  the  peculiar  nature  of 
the  present  work,  it  will  be  found  to  lose  much  of  its  formidable 
character  The  mere  passage  of  the  water,  without  regard  to  the 
use  of  the  channel  as  a  navigable  canal,  requires  only  moderate 
dimensions  of  breadth  and  depth,  no  towing  path,  nor  any  great 
allowance  of  clear  space,  necessary  in  other  cases,  being  required 
in  this.  Under  such  circumstances,  and  because  most  parts  of  the 
present  work  will  require  a  lining  of  masonry  at  any  rate,  the  con- 
struction  of  it  by  means  of  a  drift  way,  instead  of  an  open  cutting, 
becomes  an  expedient  of  real  economy,  whenever  the  depth  ex- 
ceeds a  certain  limit ;  and  we  find,  by  the  calculation  of  our  data, 
that  in  the  present  case  this  limit  does  not,  in  fact,  exceed  25  feet. 

It  may  be  observed,  also,  that  a  moderate  increase  of  depth,  not 
exceeding  for  instance  38  feet,  produces  no  proportionate  increase 
n  the  expense  of  tunnelling  ;  and  the  inference  is,  that  in  resorting 
to  the  construction  of  a  regular  tunnel,  on  all  that  part  of  our  work 
which  exceeds  25  feet,  we  shall  practically  reduce  the  expense 
and  d  fficulty  of  its  construction,  nearly  to  the  standard  of  an  open 
cutting  of  this  depth. 

The  occurrence  of  rock,  such  as  that  generally  found  in  the 
vicinity,  will  not  materially  affect  the  truth  of  this  proposition.  It 
will,  undoubtedly,  increase  the  expense  of  excavation  ;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  it  will  supersede  the  necessity  of  arching  over  head, 
and  probably  of  lining  the  channel  way  ;  in  which  case,  it  will 
produce  a  saving  rather  than  an  enhancement  of  expense. 

The  occurrence  of  water  will  probably  be  an  evil  according  to 
any  mode  of  construction,  and  must  be  provided  for  in  the  prepa- 
ratory arrangements.    In  the  construction  of  a  tunnel,  however,  it 


391 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


will  be  practicable  to  establish  a  simple  drainage  at  an  early  stage 
of  the  work,  through  the  whole  line  of  the  drift,  by  running  a  small 
headway  from  the  flanks,  towards  the  centre,  in  connection  with 
the  shafts. 

The  time  necessary  for  executing  this  work  under  less  favoura- 
ble circumstances,  would  be  tedious  ;  but  with  a  surface  so  slightly 
elevated  above  the  grade,  and  in  other  respects  favourable,  it  may 
be  carried  on,  by  the  multiplication  of  shafts,  almost  with  the  cele- 
rity of  an  open  cutting.  The  plan  of  construction  recommended 
for  the  generality  of  the  line  between  the  confluent  reservoir  and 
the  tunnel,  is  a  plain  channel-way  of  masonry,  either  dry  or  in 
mortar,  represented  in  form,  though  not  exactly  in  size  or  con- 
struction, by  draught  No.  1.  For  the  locality  referred  to,  it  should 
be  about  6  feet  wide  at  bottom  and  8  feet  at  top,  by  5  or  6  feet 
deep  ;  and  to  protect  the  bottom  against  the  abrasion  of  the  cur- 
rent, it  should  be  covered  with  a  heavy  layer  of  the  masonry  com- 
position called  beton — or  better,  by  a  reversed  arch  of  hard  brick, 
laid  with  cement  in  a  prepared  mould  of  the  beton  ;  finally,  the 
whole  to  be  covered  over  with  a  shingled  or  boarded  roof.  With 
the  foregoing  dimensions,  and  the  declivity  of  one  foot  per  mile, 
the  quantities  of  water  discharged  would  be  as  follows,  viz. 

When  running  with  the  depth  of  2  feet=9,837,000  galls,  per  diem. 

do.  do.  3  do. =17,903,600  do.  do. 

do.  do.  4do.=29,948,800  do.  do. 

taking  the  nearest  hundred  in  each  case. 

The  expense  of  constructing  a  channel-way  of  the  kind  here 
described,  and  in  the  best  manner,  is  estimated  at  about  48,000 
dollars  per  mile,  including  the  roof ;  but  in  cases  where  the  nature 
of  the  soil  or  the  regimen  of  the  current  permits  us  to  substitute 
beton  for  the  reversed  arch,  the  expense  will  be  reduced  to  43,500 
dollars,  exclusive  of  excavations.  When  the  cuttings  become 
somewhat  deep,  as  they  do  on  about  3£  miles  of  the  first  twelve,  it 
will  be  expedient  to  adopt  the  form  and  proportions  of  the  drawing 
No.  2,  filling  in  with  earth  over  the  arch ;  and  the  same  profile 
may  be  used  also  in  the  tunnel,  wherever  the  roof  of  the  excava- 
tion consists  of  earth.  This  will  make  the  expense  of  the  con- 
struction about  58,000  dollars  per  mile.  In  rock  excavation,  how- 
ever, the  expense  of  the  masonry  construction  will  be  diminished 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


392 


at  least  15,000  dollars  per  mile,  and  in  some  instances  more  ;  and 
in  the  tunnel,  wherever  the  vaulting  can  be  dispensed  with,  the 
preparation  of  the  channel- way  will  probably  not  exceed  15,000 
dollars  per  mile  altogether. 

From  these  data  we  may  now  estimate  the  expense  of  the  first 
twelve  miles,  as  follows  : 

Cutting  and  filling  on  9£  miles  of  open  cutting,  (includ- 
ing culverts)  61,420 

Excavation  on  2^  miles  tunnel,  including  shafts,  &c. 

one-fourth  rock,  114,000 

Construction  of  channel-way,  including  the  Confluent 

Reservoir,  558,000 


The  bed  of  Muddy  brook  north  of  the  dividing  ridge,  as  well  as 
that  of  Sawmill  river  at  the  debouch  of  the  tunnel,  furnish  favour- 
able positions  for  storing  reservoirs,  one  of  which,  at  the  last  men- 
tioned place,  is  represented  on  the  map  at  the  distance  of  12£  miles 
from  the  Confluent  Reservoir,  and  which  may  be  constructed,  if 
adopted,  without  any  enhancement  of  the  foregoing  estimate.  The 
draft  of  water  taken  from  it  is  supposed  to  be  247  feet  above  tide, 
the  surface  of  the  reservoir  itself  being  258  feet,  and  the  declivity 
of  the  location  down  the  residue  of  the  Sawmill  valley  is  assumed 
at  <i  feet  per  mile.  The  local  circumstances  of  this  part  of  the 
line  are  singularly  favourable — the  lateral  slope  of  the  ground  ge- 
nerally gentle,  presenting  an  easy  choice  of  levels,  with  very  few 
positions  requiring  cutting  or  filling  to  any  extent,  or  much  extra 
work  of  any  kind  whatever.  A  general  profile  for  the  construction 
of  the  channel-way,  under  these  circumstances,  is  exhibited  in  the 
annexed  drawing,  No,  3.  Its  dimensions  are  adapted  to  the  pro- 
posed declivity,  so  as  to  give  nearly  the  same  discharges  at  the 
different  depths  that  are  given  on  a  less  declivity  by  the  larger 
profile  above  specified,  and  the  expense  of  its  construction,  in  the 
best  manner,  is  estimated  at  35,500  dollars  per  mile. 

The  drawing,  No.  4,  is  given  to  meet  cases  of  deep  cutting  ; 
but  its  application,  on  this  portion  of  our  route,  will  be  very  limited 
indeed. 


Total, 


$733,420 


393 


[Doc.  No.  36 


The  entrance  to  Tibbet's  brook  valley  is  effected  by  a  cut  12 
chains  long,  28  feet  deep  at  the  highest  point,  and  about  22  feet 
at  an  average,  chiefly  in  rock.  It  is  located  on  the  map  as  a  deep 
cut  following  the  curve  line  of  the  gap  ;  but  if  a  tunnel  should  be 
substituted,  it  would,  of  course,  take  the  chord  of  the  curve,  and 
shorten  the  distance  about  one  chain.  This  mode  of  construction 
is  also  advisable,  in  reference  to  the  highway,  which,  at  present, 
occupies  the  gap,  and  for  the  accommodation  of  which  it  would  be 
necessary  to  close  the  entire  thorough  cut,  if  constructed,  with  a 
strong  archway  of  masonry.  The  tunnel  will  require  no  archway, 
and  will  undoubtedly  be  the  preferable  construction  in  point  of 
economy.  The  valley  of  Tibbet's  brook  furnishes  another  fav- 
ourable location  for  a  storing  reservoir,  the  construction  of  which 
would  merely  require  a  dam,  instead  of  an  aqueduct,  for  the  pas- 
sage of  the  brook. 

The  area  which  may  be  included,  is  about  40  acres  in  extent, 
and  is  surrounded  on  all  sides,  except  where  the  dam  would  be,  by 
high  steep  hills  ;  the  whole  having  an  air  of  seclusion  and  cleanli- 
ness well  adapted  to  the  end  in  view.  The  surface  of  this  pond 
would  be  graduated  by  its  distance  from  that  at  the  head  of  the 
Sawmill  valley,  allowing  the  proposed  rate  of  descent  equal  6  feet 
per  mile,  which  would  make  it  147|-  feet  above  tide.  The  draft 
from  it  may  be  taken  at  140  feet,  and  the  aqueduct  on  the  remain- 
ing distance  to  the  city  is  proposed  to  be  graded  at  a  fall  of  2  feet 
per  mile,  using,  of  course,  an  increased  channel-way.  This  ar- 
rangement of  grades,  from  the  head  of  the  Sawmill  to  the  city,  is 
found  to  meet  the  conditions  of  the  ground  between  Tibbet's  brook 
and  Harlem  river  more  advantageously  than  a  grade  of  uniform 
fall ;  otherwise  the  latter  would  have  been  preferred  for  its  sim- 
plicity. 

The  crossing  at  Harlem  river  is  proposed  to  be  effected  by 
means  of  an  Aqueduct  bridge,  18  chains,  or  1188  feet  long,  from 
abutment  to  abutment,  and  consisting  of  nine  plain  semicircular 
arches.  The  position  in  which  it  is  located  on  the  map  is  the  nar- 
rowest at  the  height  of  the  grade  line,  which  the  ground  admits  of, 
and  is  furnished  with  natural  abutments  of  solid  rock  on  both  sides 
of  the  river.  The  river  itself,  including  a  small  margin  of  low 
ground,  is  about  600  feet  wide,  and  on  this  distance  (comprising 
five  or  six  of  the  piers)  the  height  of  the  structure  from  water  line 
to  water  line  would  be  126  feet,  exclusive  of  hydraulic  foundations, 


Doc.  No.  36.]  394 


which  would  be  from  10  to  25  feet  more.  Our  structure  adapted 
to  these  dimensions  would  of  course  be  a  work  of  considerable  la- 
bour and  expense,  but  by  no  means  of  paramount  difficulty  in  either 
of  these  respects.  Many  bridges  of  much  greater  magnitude,  both 
in  length  and  height,  have  been  erected  in  other  countries  for  the 
same  object,  from  which  we  are  enabled  to  derive  certain  data  for 
all  our  calculations.  The  aqueduct  bridge  of  Lisbon,  for  exam- 
ple, of  which  a  fragment  is  exhibited  in  the  annexed  drawing  No. 
5,  consists  of  35  arches,  some  of  them  more  than  100  feet  span 
and  230  feet  high.  The  modern  aqueduct  bridge  of  Caserta,  near 
Naples,  (see  Fragment  No.  C,)  is  upwards  of  1000  feet  long  by 
178  feet  high,  and  consists  of  about  90  arches  in  three  tiers.  The 
aqueduct  of  Spoletto  (No.  7,)  consists  of  ten  arches,  somewhat 
narrower  than  ours,  but  in  height  upwards  of  300  feet ;  and  the 
iron  canal  aqueduct  of  Pontcycylte,  in  Wales,  (No.  8,)  is  960  feet 
long  and  rests  upon  18  piers  of  brick,  some  of  which  are  120  feet 
in  height.  Numerous  other  examples  of  a  like  kind  might  be  quot- 
ed, but  it  may  suffice  for  the  present  to  name  two  only  in  addition 
to  those  already  mentioned,  viz.  the  great  aqueduct  of  Maintenon, 
in  France,  of  666  arches,  projected  by  Vauban  and  partly  built, 
being  three  and  a  quarter  miles  in  length,  and  of  various  heights 
from  50  to  220  feet.  And  lastly,  the  recently  constructed  aque- 
duct of  Lucca,  of  1000  arches. 

With  such  examples  of  enterprise  and  skill  before  us,  many  of 
them  undertaken  for  objects  far  less  important  than  that  of  supply- 
ing the  city  of  New-York  with  water,  we  may  certainly  look  upon 
the  design  of  the  Harlem  aqueduct  without  fear. 

From  the  aqueduct,  passing  south,  the  line  for  about  half  a  mile 
encounters  a  precipice  of  rocks  ;  it  then  attains  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  and  soon  afterwards  falls  into  the  line  of  the  tenth  city 
avenue.  At  this  stage  of  the  location,  a  question  of  some  impor- 
tance presents  itself,  as  to  the  most  favourable  locality  for  the  Re- 
ceiving Reservoir.  A  position  admirably  adapted  to  this  purpose, 
being  bounded  on  two  sides  by  ledges  of  rock,  presents  itself  be- 
tween the  Ninth  and  Tenth  Avenues,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Man- 
hattanville  valley,  from  which  mains  could  be  taken  for  the  supply 
of  the  Distributing  Reservoirs,  without  any  extraordinary  expense 
in  crossing  that  valley.  On  the  other  hand  a  more  active  and  effi- 
cient head  would  be  obtained,  by  extending  the  structure  of  a  re- 
gular aqueduct  across  the  valley,  and  so  continuing  it  to  some  po- 


395 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


sition  for  the  Receiving  Reservoir  further  south  ;  or  we  might  cross 
the  valley  by  an  inverted  syphon  of  sufficient  capacity,  and  renew- 
ing our  head  by  means  of  a  reservoir  on  the  south  side,  continue 
the  structure  of  the  aqueduct  therefrom,  say  to  104th  street,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Ninth  Avenue,  or  possibly  as  far  south  as  85th  street, 
in  which  vicinity,  I  understand,  there  are  lands  belonging  to  the 
Corporation,  some  of  which  might  be  adapted  to  the  location  of  this 
reservoir. 

Our  surveys  contemplated  the  ground  with  reference  to  all  these 
methods,  but  our  location  is  delineated  according  to  that  first  men- 
tioned ;  in  doing  which,  however,  it  is  by  no  means  intended  to 
prejudge  the  question ;  indeed  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the 
plan  last  mentioned,  upon  further  examination,  will  be  found  to 
possess  superior  advantages  in  point  of  efficiency,  without  much  if 
any  enhancement  of  expense. 

The  system  and  construction  of  the  Reservoirs  for  receiving  and 
distributidg  the  water,  would  be  nearly  the  same  for  either  mode  of 
arranging  the  line  of  conduit ;  that  is  to  say — 

First,  the  Receiving  Reservoir,  which  we  may  suppose  to  be  in 
the  position  named,  viz.  between  Ninth  and  Tenth  Avenues,  and 
between  133d  and  137th  streets.  This,  if  made  to  occupy  the  en- 
tire space  here  indicated,  would  afford  two  apartments  of  eight 
acres  each,  enclosed  with  a  rampart  of  earth  and  masonry,  suffi- 
ciently broad  for  a  border  of  clean  shrubbery  and  trees.  The 
average  height  of  its  water  surfar©  >vould  be  about  123  feet. 

Secondly,  two  Equalising  Reservoirs;  one  on  105th  street,  be- 
tween the  Eighth  and  Ninth  Avenues,  and  the  other  on  69th  street, 
east  of  the  Eighth  Avenue.  These  may  be  of  any  dimensions, 
from  one  to  eight  acres.  The  first  receiving  its  water  along  the 
line  of  the  Ninth  Avenue,  and  the  second  by  a  main  from  the  first, 
along  the  Eighth  Avenue.  Of  course  the  first  would  be  dis- 
pensed with  as  an  Equalizing  Reservoir,  in  case  its  position,  or  any 
more  southerly  position,  should  be  occupied  as  the  locality  of  the 
Receiving  Reservoir. 

Thirdly,  the  principal  Distributing  Reservoir,  for  which  the  most 
favourable  position  appears  to  be  near  the  intersection  of  38th 
street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  three  miles  from  the  City-hall ;  this  being 
the  most  southerly  point,  at  which  an  elevation  nearly  great  enough 
can  be  obtained,  and  where  the  area  is  sufficient  to  afford  the  de- 
sired capacity.  It  is  proposed  to  occupy  at  least  two  entire  blocks 
6 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


396 


with  this  reservoir,  which,  after  giving  a  strong  profile  to  the  en- 
closing rampart,  will  afford  a  clear  area  of  eight  acres,  and  con- 
tain more  than  fifty-two  milions  of  gallons  in  volums,  to  a  depth  of 
twenty  feet.  Its  water  will  be  conveyed  from  the  second  equali- 
zing reservoir,  by  a  line  of  conduit  laid  down  along  the  Eighth 
Avenue  to  the  corner  of  38th  street,  and  thence  by  the  latter  to 
the  Distributing  Reservoir. 

The  effect  of  the  whole  arrangement  will  be  generally  to 
maintain  an  equable  head  at  the  highest  possible  elevation  in 
the  Distributing  Reservoir,  and  to  furnish  a  prompt  supply  on 
occasions  of  extraordinary  draft.  If,  for  example,  the  surface 
of  the  Distributing  Reservoir  should  be  drawn  down  much  be- 
low its  ordinary  level,  the  increased  difference  of  head  would 
tend  immediately  to  restore  the  deficiency,  by  an  accelerated  pas- 
sage of  water  from  the  nearest  Equalizing  Reservoir;  and  this  in 
turn  would  be  supplied  by  a  similar  action  from  the  next  in  order, 
and  so  on  till  the  equilibrium  of  the  system  was  entirely  restored. 
This  tendency,  therefore,  operating  by  night  as  well  as  by  day, 
would  secure  the  Distributing  Reservoir  against  any  considerable 
variations  of  level,  and  supposing  the  supplying  mains  properly 
constructed  and  arranged,  it  is  presumed  that  the  average  height 
of  its  water  line  would  not  stand  many  feet  below  that  of  the  Re- 
ceiving Reservoir,  probably  five  or  six,  which  would  still  afford  a 
head  of  117  feet  above  tide  for  the  distribution  of  the  water.  This 
is  about  fifteen  feet  greater  them  the  height  of  the  Fairmount  re- 
servoir at  Philadelphia,  and  abundantly  sufficient  for  all  practical 
purposes  in  the  city  of  New- York. 

The  length  of  the  line  thus  described,  from  the  Confluent  Reser- 
voir near  Wood's  bridge,  to  the  Receiving  Reservoir  at  Manhattan- 
ville,  is  37  miles  and  52  chains ;  and  from  the  latter  to  the  Distri- 
buting Reservoir  on  38th  street,  five  and  a  half  miles  ;  making  a 
total  of  the  route  as  located  of  43  miles  and  12  chains,  without  in- 
cluding the  pipes  for  collecting  the  water  at  the  Confluent  Reservoir. 

The  expense  of  the  first  twelve  miles,  including  the  Reservoir  at 
the  head  of  Sawmill  river,  has  already  been  given,  and  it  only  re- 
mains now,  in  completing  our  views  of  this  route,  to  give  the 
estimate  for  the  remainder,  as  follows :  viz. 


397 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


Cutting  and  filling  from  the  Sawmill  Reservoir  to  the 

Receiver,  $191,250 
Harlem  Aqueduct,  two  small  Aqueducts,  Tibbet's  Dam 

and  several  small  culverts,  576,000 

Channel-way  complete,  1,020,000 
Receiving,  Distributing  and  Equalizing  Reservoirs  on 

the  island,  200,000 
Five  and  a  half  miles  of  supplying  main,  at  $100,000 

per  mile,  550,000 


$2,537,250 

Add  estimate  of  first  twelve  miles,  733,420 


Total  nett  cost  from  Confluent  Reservoir,  $3,270,670 
Contingencies,  325,067 
Land  and  water  rights,  damages,  &c.  &c.  100,900 


$3,695,737 


To  which  if  we  add  the  expense  of  the  lower  Croton 

Feeders,  854,500 


We  get  an  aggregate  of  $4,550,237 

This  is  the  estimated  expense  of  delivering  the  water  of  these 
feeders  into  the  distributing  reservoir  in  the  city ;  that  is  to  say,  at 
the  minimum,  15,846,624  gallons  per  diem  of  running  water,  and 
11,000,000  obtainable  from  a  surface  of  1600  acres  of  reservoir. 
The  upper  branches  of  the  Croton,  whenever  it  shall  become  ne- 
cessary to  resort  to  them,  will  furnish  an  additional  supply  of 
10,155,384  gallons  per  diem  of  running  water,  and  9,000,000  more 
from  spacious  natural  reservoirs,  and  the  additional  expense,  as 
heretofore  estimated,  will  be  $1,277,000;  making  a  total  for  the 
entire  system,  $5,827,237. 

HUDSON  RIVER  ROUTE. 

This  line  takes  its  origin  from  a  reservoir  at  the  foot  of  Muscoot 
hill,  marked  A,  where  a  dam  of  thirteen  feet  will  back  up  the  water 
to  a  considerable  distance  above  Wood's  bridge,  and  spread  it 
over  a  portion  of  the  flats  at  the  confluence  of  the  Muscoot.  The 
reservoir  thus  formed  would  have  a  surface  of  about  eighty  acres, 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


398 


from  which  it  is  proposed  to  clear  off  the  loose  soil,  trees,  and 
growth  of  every  kind.  The  height  of  the  fountain-head  thus  form- 
ed will  be  175  feet  above  tide.  Another  plan  of  deriving  the  wa- 
ter, so  as  to  avail  of  a  height  somewhat  greater,  was  discussed  in 
the  progress  of  the  survey,  and  is  as  follows,  viz.  to  intercept  the 
Croton  a  little  below  Golding's  Bridge  by  a  dam  of  about  nine  feet 
in  height,  which  would  give  an  elevation  of  191  feet  above  tide  at 
the  fountain  reservoir  in  this  position.  Thence  leading  the  water 
by  a  short  cut  down  the  east  side  of  the  river  into  the  Factory  dam 
at  Mechanicsville,  raising  the  latter  about  three  feet  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  finally  retaking  it  from  the  south  end  of  the  dam,  and 
conducting  it  along  the  face  of  the  slope  down  the  Croton.  By 
crossing  the  Croton  at  Muscoot  hill,  we  should  be  enabled  at  a  fu- 
ture time  to  bring  in  the  water  of  Muscoot  river  by  a  short  feeder, 
originating  in  the  reservoir  marked  R,  so  that  the  entire  Croton 
would  become  available  by  this  arrangement,  the  same  as  in  taking 
the  water  from  the  reservoir  A.  The  height  gained  at  the  foot  of 
Muscoot  hill  by  adopting  this  plan,  would  be  about  ten  feet,  an  im- 
portant consideration  in  locating  the  residue  of  the  line  down  the 
Croton;  but  whether  sufficient  to  compensate  for  the  additional 
constructions,  must  remain  for  the  present  undecided. 

The  location  to  be  explained  and  estimated  is  considered  as  origi- 
nating at  the  reservoir  A  ;  the  water  being  taken  at  the  full  height  of 
the  surface,  with  only  a  fall  in  the  first  instance  necessary  for  im- 
parting the  initial  velocity.  As  to  the  adequacy  of  the  supply,  a  very 
brief  statement  will  suffice.  It  was  on  the  fifth  of  September  that 
I  gauged  the  Croton  at  Wood's  bridge,  and  it  was  then  discharging 
at  the  rate  of  51,522,480  gallons  per  diem  ;  to  which  if  we  add  the 
3,628,800  discharging  from  the  Muscoot,  and  reduce  the  aggregate 
in  the  ratio  of  one-fifth,  to  meet  extremes  of  drought  like  that  of 
1816,  we  have  still  remaining  a  regular  running  supply  of  44,120,- 
924  gallons  per  diem,  without  resorting  to  the  20,000,000  daily, 
obtainable  from  reservoirs. 

The  general  rate  of  declivity  for  the  line  under  consideration,  is 
assumed  at  one  and  a  quarter  feet  per  mile,  which  is  maintained 
regularly  from  the  fountain  head  to  the  city.  The  channel-way 
adapted  to  this  declivity  is  that  represented  in  the  drawing  No.  1, 
already  referred  to,  being  four  feet  wide  at  bottom  and  six  at  top, 
and  six  feet  deep,  including  the  reversed  arch  of  one  foot ;  with 


399 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


which  dimensions  it  will  deliver  the  following  quantities  of  water 
according  to  the  different  depths  at  which  it  runs,  viz. 

At  3  ft.  measured  in  the  mid-channel,  11,500.000  galls,  per  diem. 


The  vaulted  profile,  No.  2,  is  adapted  to  deep  cuttings,  and  to 
the  passage  of  roads  and  villages  on  this  route,  having  the  same 
capacity  as  the  preceding  for  the  delivery  of  water.  The  expense 
of  these  different  constructions,  will  vary  as  was  mentioned  in  the 
inland  route,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  strata  in  which  they 
are  severally  executed,  being  always  most  expensive  in  soil  and 
least  so  in  rock,  regarding  the  masonry  apart  from  the  excavation; 
and  in  a  majority  of  cases  the  same  relation  also  obtains  in  the  ag- 
gregate. It  will  be  seen  of  course,  that  this  arises  from  the  in- 
creased quantity  both  of  excavation  and  masonry,  necessary  in  the 
case  of  soil.  With  regard  to  the  masonry  alone,  if  done  with  mor- 
tar in  a  durable  and  substantial  manner,  with  reversed  arch,  the 
cost  will  be  as  follows  :  For  the  profile  No.  1,  in  soil,  roof  inclu- 
ded, 848,688  per  mile  ;  and  in  rock,  834,848  ;  and  for  profile  No. 
2,  an  addition  of  10,500  dollars  in  eacn  case. 

It  is  rather  fortunate  than  otherwise  then,  that  rock  does  occur 
on  a  considerable  proportion  of  this  route ;  it  is  only  when 
it  presents  itself  in  the  form  of  steep  precipices  and  sharp  points, 
or  in  great  heaps  of  loose  rock,  that  it  becomes  more  expensive. 

With  regard  to  the  cuttings  and  fillings  on  this  route,  I  presume 
it  will  not  be  necessary  for  me  to  describe  them  in  detail ;  they  are 
fully  exhibited  in  the  accompanying  profiles,  and  the  single  remark, 
that  the  location,  until  it  penetrates  the  Sawmill  valley,  is  wholly 
traced  along  the  undulating  hill-side  of  the  Croton  and  Hudson 
vallies,  will  explain  why  the  excavations  and  embankments  are  so 
much  more  numerous  and  bold  than  those  of  the  inland  route,  ex- 
cepting only  the  deep  cutting  on  that  route.  The  following  re- 
marks are  added,  relative  to  a  few  prominent  points  of  difficulty, 
where  principles  of  construction  or  location  are  involved.  The 
first  case  of  this  kind  occurs  at  the  point  of  crossing  the  Croton  at 
Garretson's  mill,  wrhere  an  aqueduct  of  one  arch  85  feet  span  will 
be  required,  and  a  land  arch  of  16  feet  for  the  passage  of  the  road. 
The  shoring  is  favourable,  particularly  on  the  south  side,  which 
is  a  steep  precipice  of  rock  ;  height  of  the  grade  line  40  feet.  Some 


4  ft. 

5  ft. 

6  ft. 


17,905,215 
25,985,235 
33,516,000 


Doc.  No.  36.]  400 


heavy  culverts  occur  on  the  following  parts  of  the  line,  but  the 
next  work  of  much  magnitude  is  a  short  deep  cut  of  35  feet  extreme 
depth  near  the  mouth  of  the  Croton.  This  is  made  in  passing  an 
isthmus  back  of  the  hilly  grounds  of  that  vicinity,  and  cannot  be 
avoided  without  encountering  other  impediments  of  much  greater 
account.  It  is  estimated  as  a  deep  cutting,  but  probably  would  be 
lessened  in  expense  by  admitting  a  short  tunnel  in  place  of  an  open 
cut.  Another  of  the  same  depth,  but  shorter,  occurs  nearer  Sing- 
Sing,  through  which  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  expediency  of  a 
tunnel. 

The  chasm  of  Sing-Sing  hill  next  occurs,  and  will  require  a  bold 
culvert  of  60  feet  span ;  after  which  about  a  mile  of  the  line  pass- 
ing through  Sing-Sing  will  require  vaulting. 

The  next  structure  worthy  of  particular  notice,  is  the  aqueduct 
at  the  crossing  of  Sleepy-Hollow  ;  this  will  require  five  arches  of 
70  feet  span,  and  including  wings,  will  be  nearly  500  feet  in 
length.  The  height  of  its  water  line  above  Mill  river  is  60  feet, 
but  the  banks  rise  rapidly,  particularly  that  on  the  west  side. 

Passing  Tarrytown,  a  cutting  of  26  feet  extreme  depth  occurs 
near  Mr.  Irvings,  and  several  heavy  culverts  in  the  vicinity  of 
Greensburg  landing,  one  of  which  will  require  a  span  of  20  feet. 
The  deep  cutting  by  which  the  line  penetrates  the  valley  of  the 
Sawmill  river  below  Mr.  Constant's,  will  be  noticed  as  a  prominent 
feature  in  the  general  profile  ;  it  is  45  chains  long,  beginning  and 
ending  with  the  depth  of  25  feet,  and  averaging  37  feet  deep  on 
that  length,  chiefly  rock.  From  the  observations  made  relative  to 
the  tunnel  on  the  inland  route,  the  suitable  and  most  economical 
construction  for  this  locality  will  be  readily  inferred,  and  it  results 
from  a  comparison  of  estimates,  that  to  pass  this  dividing  ridge 
with  the  minimum  of  expense  requires  a  tunnel  of  at  least  half 
a  mile. 

The  next  work  of  consequence  is  the  aqueduct  across  Sawmill 
river;  this  should  consist  of  three  arches  of  60  feet  span,  making 
a  total  length,  inclusive  of  wings,  of  250  feet ;  its  height  above  the 
surface  of  Sawmill  river  being  36  feet. 

The  Hudson  route  here  falls  upon  nearly  the  same  ground  with 
that  of  the  interior,  but  differs  from  it  in  the  magnitude  of  some  of 
its  works,  in  consequence  of  the  difference  of  grade,  the  river  line 
being  the  lowest.  In  consequence  of  this  difference,  the  tunnel  at 
the  entrance  of  Tibbet's  brook  will  be  about  fourteen  feet  deeper 


401 


[Doc.  No.  36 


and  one  or  two  chains  ionger  than  that  specified  for  the  interior 
route  ;  which  of  course  would  decide  the  preference  for  this  mode 
of  construction,  if  there  were  any  doubt  in  the  former  case.  The 
depression  of  the  river  line  after  passing  this  ridge  becomes  an  ad- 
vantage for  crossing  the  following  ravines,  and  the  valley  of  Tib- 
bit's  brook.  On  the  east  side  of  the  latter  the  two  lines  converge 
more  nearly  to  the  same  grade,  and  the  subsequent  constructions, 
including  the  system  of  reservoirs  and  supplying  mains  in  the  city, 
are  very  nearly  the  same  for  both.  They  have  already  been  suffi- 
ciently explained  in  connexion  with  the  inland  route.  The  dis- 
tance by  the  line  thus  described,  from  the  Muscoot  dam  to  the  re- 
ceiving reservoir,  is  41  miles  and  36  chains,  which,  together  with 
the  five  and  a  half  miles  from  the  receiving  to  the  distributing  reser- 
voir, makes  a  total  of  46  miles  and  76  chains,  nearly  47  miles. 

The  expense  of  constructing  this  line  is  summarily  estimated  as 
follows : 

Cutting  and  filling,  including  the  dam  and  small  cul- 
verts on  the  whole  line,  6674,652 

Eight  aqueducts,  of  which  those  of  the  Harlem,  Saw- 
mill river  and  Sleepy-Hollow,  are  the  most  consid- 
erable, 812,000 

Channel  way,  35i  miles  in  soil,  residue  in  rock,  1,985,800 

Reservoirs  and  mains  in  the  city  as  before  estimated,  750,000 


$4,222,453 

Contingencies,  422,245 


$4,644,697 

Land  and  water  rights,  damages,  &c.  &c.  73,500 


Total  for  the  river  route,  $4,718,197 

In  drawing  out  this  estimate,  as  well  as  those  given  in  the  pre- 
ceding part  of  this  report,  it  may  be  useful  to  remark  that  every 
calculation  has  been  made  on  the  side  of  stability  and  permanency. 
The  works  are  all  supposed  to  be  constructed  of  the  best  and  most 
imperishable  materials,  put  together  in  the  strongest  manner ;  the 
head  reservoirs  to  be  cleared  of  all  their  soil,  trees,  and  vegetables, 
and  surrounded  by  a  regular  bank  ;  the  dams  and  weirs  to  be  built 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


402 


of  massive  stone  masonry ;  the  water-way  of  masonry,  as  already 
described,  closed  either  with  a  roof,  or  with  an  arch ;  the  earth 
thrown  back  upon  it,  and  furnished  with  ventilators  at  suitable  in- 
tervals ;  small  culverts  to  be  constructed  by  iron  pipes  set  in  the 
foundations,  or  in  the  upper  part  of  the  walls  of  the  channel-way, 
as  occasion  may  require ;  larger  culverts  and  aqueducts  to  be  built 
of  the  best  stone  work,  in  a  plain  substantial  manner ;  embankments 
generally  to  be  formed  of  stone.  According  to  these  various  sup- 
positions every  piece  of  work,  of  whatever  kind,  has  been  calcu- 
lated separately  on  the  respective  routes,  and  the  results,  collected 
and  classified,  furnished  the  different  items  of  the  foregoing 
estimates. 

The  structure  of  masonry  has  been  adopted  for  the  line  of 
aqueduct  instead  of  iron  pipes,  on  the  ground  of  its  superiority,  in 
point  of  cheapness,  durability,  and  efficiency.  As  a  difference  of 
opinion  however  exists  on  this  subject,  I  beg  leave  to  present  it 
a  little  in  detail. 

1st.  In  point  of  cheapness.  The  structure  of  masonry  for  the 
Hudson  River  Route  is  estimated  in  ordinary  cutting,  at  a  fraction 
less  than  49,000  dollars  per  mile.  When  vaulted  through  deep 
cutting,  it  will  cost  more,  but  in  rock  less ;  say  49,000  at  an  aver- 
age. The  excavations  and  culverts  average  on  the  same  line, 
about  16,500  dollars  per  mile,  making  in  all  65,500  dollars  per 
mile.  To  this  I  add  five  per  cent,  as  the  ratio  in  which  the  line 
may  possibly  be  increased  in  length  and  cutting  by  the  adoption  of 
this  system,  and  the  entire  amount,  to  be  used  as  a  term  of  com- 
parison, will  be  68,775  dollars  per  mile,  which  is  about  six  thou- 
sand dollars  less  than  the  estimated  expense  of  laying  down  a 
single  iron  main  $0  inches  in  diameter.  The  structure  recom- 
mended for  the  Sawmill  route,  being  much  smaller  in  all  its  dimen- 
sions, comes  into  the  comparison  with  an  advantage  of  from  25 
to  30,000  dollars  per  mile  less  than  an  iron  pipe. 

2ndly.  In  point  of  durability.  We  have  no  sufficient  expe- 
rience of  the  durability  of  iron  pipes,  to  be  able  to  bring  them  in 
a  direct  comparison  with  the  aqueduct  in  this  respect ;  we  only 
know  that  the  principle  of  this  construction  was  applied  in  lead, 
and  in  a  very  perfect  manner,  in  many  of  the  Roman  works,  all 
of  which  have  long  since  gone  to  decay,  while  a  good  number  of 
their  aqueducts  are  still  in  full  operation. 

We  may,  however,  form  some  opinion  of  the  relative  durability 


403 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


of  the  two  modes,  by  a  comparison  of  the  wear  and  tear  to  which 
they  are  exposed.  On  an  aqueduct  the  water  flows  with  an  easy 
natural  motion,  acting  upon  its  channel  with  nothing  more  than  its 
own  proper  weight,  and  a  friction,  scarcely  appreciably  ;  and  if  by 
an  accident  its  motion  should  be  obstructed,  the  water  having 
room  to  expand,  would  back  up  and  check  the  velocity  of  the  ap- 
proaching current  without  any  sensible  revulsion  upon  the  sides  of 
the  aqueduct :  but  in  a  close  pipe,  having  such  a  depression  as 
would  be  necessary  in  the  present  instance,  say  130  feet  below 
the  head,  the  action  upon  the  sides  of  the  pipe  would  be  about 
601bs.  to  the  inch.  The  water  being  also  confined  latterly,  any 
impediment  would  necessarily  react  in  some  degree  upon  its  whole 
volume,  as  far  back  as  the  nearest  vent,  and  it  should  be  observed 
that  a  mile  of  pipe  contains  more  than  700  tons  of  water.  It  is 
true  that  the  probability  of  any  serious  impediment  is  very  remote, 
but  even  the  friction  upon  so  inelastic  a  substance  as  water,  and 
under  this  high  pressure  and  impetus,  is  a  force  which  at  no  dis- 
tant period  must  impair  the  stability  of  the  work. 
.  3dly.  In  point  of  efficiency.  The  profiles  recommended  for  the 
respective  routes  are  adapted  to  the  delivery  of  any  quantity  up  to 
30  millions  of  gallons  daily.  The  present  demand  is  probably  not 
more  than  six  millions ;  but  at  the  rate  of  increase  by  which  the 
city  is  advancing,  and  which  it  would  seem  is  itself  increasing, 
at  least  10  millions  will  be  required  within  a  few  years  after 
these  works  can  be  completed.  It  would  be  absurd  therefore  to 
adopt  in  the  calculations  of  the  present  question  a  scale  of  supply 
lower  than  10  millions,  even  for  present  purposes. 

At  the  declivity  adopted  for  the  Hudson  River  Route,  a  single 
30-inch  pipe  would  deliver  three  millions  of  gallons  daily;  fewer 
than  four  such  pipes  therefore  would  not  deliver  the  quantity  re- 
quired ;  and  if  we  should  attempt  to  reduce  the  number  to  two  by 
increasing  the  rate  of  declivity  to  4  feet  per  mile,  this  fall  from  the 
Muscoot  Dam  to  the  Distributing  Reservoir,  would  carry  us  17  feet 
below  the  surface  of  the  Hudson  ! 

The  Sawmill  Route  after  passing  the  dividing  ridge,  has  a  much 
greater  declivity,  but  even  there,  fewer  than  two  pipes  would  not 
suffice  to  deliver  the  quantity  required.  These  calculations,  it  will 
be  observed,  are  limited  to  the  wants  of  the  moment.  As  the  de- 
mand increases,  additional  pipes  would  have  to  be  laid  down  from 
time  to  time,  at  a  great  labor  and  expense.  On  the  Hudson  River 
7 


Doc.  No.  30.] 


404 


route  indeed  the  intervals  would  be  so  short,  that  a  corps  of  me- 
chanics would  scarcely  be  dismissed  from  one  job,  before  it  would 
be  necessary  to  prepare  for  another. 

These  considerations,  I  presume,  will  fully  justify  the  adoption 
of  the  aqueduct  instead  of  the  close  pipe,  in  all  cases  which  admit 
of  its  use.* 

The  idea  has  been  suggested  that  the  crossing  of  the  Harlem 
River  could  be  economized  by  the  use  of  close  pipes  in  the  form 
of  an  inverted  syphon, — somewhat  in  the  manner  of  the  old  Roman 
work  at  Lyons.  It  would  be  easy  to  show  by  a  comparison  of 
estimates,  that  there  would  really  be  nothing  gained  in  the  respect 
contemplated  by  making  this  substitution,  and  in  all  other  respects 
it  would  be  decidedly  objectionable.  These  details  however,  do 
not  involve  the  practicability  of  the  works,  and  really  belong  to  a 
more  advanced  state  of  the  examinations. 

In  the  views  presented  by  the  two  routes,  no  attempt  has  been 
made  to  institute  a  comparison  between  them.  It  will  be  seen,  I 
trust,  from  the  facts  communicated,  that  the  water  of  the  Croton 
may  be  delivered  in  the  city  without  any  insuperable  difficulty, 
by  either  of  them  ;  and  this  problem  being  solved,  we  may  leave 
the  question  of  preference  to  be  decided  by  future  examinations 
directed  to  that  particular  object. 

The  quality  of  the  Croton  water  and  its  fitness  as  a  source  of 
supply  for  the  city,  demands  a  momentary  notice  among  the 
subjects  of  this  report.  To  the  Commissioners  indeed,  who  have 
informed  themselves  on  this  point  by  personal  examinations,  no 
such  notice  would  of  course  be  necessary,  but  to  those  who  have 
not  enjoyed  this  opportunity,  a  summary  of  the  facts  may  not  be 
uninteresting.    The  supplies  of  the  Croton  are  derived  almost 


*  The  exposure  to  frost  which  has  sometimes  heen  urged  as  an  objection  to  an 
open  canal,  will  be  no  just  ground  of  apprehension  in  the  aqueduct,  as  here  pro- 
posed. The  depth  at  which  it  will  generally  be  placed  in  the  ground — its  entire  en- 
closure overhead,  and  the  manner  of  that  enclosure  by  an  arch-way  in  part,  will  pro- 
tect it  against  any  extreme  of  cold  that  would  be  likely  to  act  upon  a  surface,  moving 
at  the  rate  of  125  feet  per  minute.  And  even  if  a  moderalecake  of  ice  should  be  form- 
ed— on  a  surface  so  small,  compared  with  the  depth  and  volume  of  water  rolling 
beneath  it — no  serious  evil  could  possibly  ensue.  It  would  rise  with  any  increase 
of  volume  as  the  ice  upon  a  Tide-water  rises,  and  being  protected  from  the  wind 
and  from  all  the  inequalities  of  an  ordinary  stream,  would  rest  quietly  upon  the 
surface  until  redissolved. 


405  [Doc.  No.  36. 


exclusively  from  the  elevated  regions  of  the  "  Highlands"  in 
Westchester  and  Putman  counties,  being  furnished  by  the  pure 
springs,  which  so  remarkably  characterize  the  granitic  formation 
of  that  region.  The  ponds  and  lakes  delineated  on  the  map, 
and  spoken  of  in  a  former  part  of  this  report,  are  among  the  num. 
ber  of  these  springs  ;  many  of  them  3  or  400  acres  in  extent,  and 
one  as  large  as  a  thousand  acres.  All  these  ponds  are  surround, 
ed  by  clear  upland  shores,  without  any  intermixture  of  marsh  ; 
and  the  surrounding  country,  cultivated,  as  it  is  generally,  in  gra- 
zing farms,  presents  an  aspect  of  more  than  ordinary  cleanness. 
The  water,  as  might  be  expected  un  !er  such  circumstances,  is 
perfectly  soft  and  clear,  much  superior  in  the  former  respect  to 
the  waters  of  our  western  lakes,  and  fully  equal  in  the  latter. 

The  Crjton  fed  by  such  springs  could  scarcely  be  otherwise 
than  pure,  and  the  fact  of  its  purity  was  strongly  verified  by  the 
experience  of  the  party  in  every  stage  of  the  water  during  the 
season.  Specimens  were  taken  up  both  in  the  high  and  low  state 
of  the  river,  and  have  been  analyzed  by  Mr.  Chilton,  and  the  results 
obtained  fully  corroborate  these  statements.  It  appears  from  his 
report  annexed,  that  the  quantity  of  saline  matter,  probablv  the 
salts  of  lime  and  magnesia,  does  not  exceed  2T3-  grains  in  the  gallon, 
"  a  quantity,"  he  observes,  "  so  small,  that  a  considerable  quantity 
of  the  water  would  be  necessary  to  determine  the  proportions." 
About  two  grains  of  vegetable  matter  was  also  suspended  in  the 
water,  in  consequence  of  the  rapid  current  in  which  it  was  taken 
up,  and  which  would  of  course  subside  in  the  Receiving  Reservoir. 

It  remains  yet  to  notice  the  results  of  our  examinations  on  the 
Bronx. 

The  use  of  these  waters  was  understood  to  depend  essentially 
upon  the  adequacy  of  the  supply,  and  the  investigation  of  this  ques- 
tion, therefore,  would  naturally  have  engaged  our  first  attention,  if 
it  had  not  been  necessary  from  other  circumstances  to  defer  it  till 
after  the  examination  of  the  routes. 

In  the  location  of  these  routes,  generally  heretofore,  it  seems  to 
have  been  an  object,  and  certainly  is  a  one  of  no  little  importance, 
to  avoid,  as  far  as  practicable,  interfering  with  the  numerous  mil  is 
and  factories  on  the  stream,  by  taking  the  water  from  the  River,  at 
the  lowest  point  possible,  and  depending  upon  the  Tide  Power  of 
Harlem  River  to  elevate  it  afterwards  to  the  height  necessary  for 
distribution  and  use  in  the  city. 


Doc.  No.  36.]  406 


A  line  of  this  kind  for  example,  supposing  it  in  other  respects 
practicable,  might  be  taken  from  a  point  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Sprain,  so  as  to  leave  Underbill's  Mill  and  the  valuable  Cotton 
Factory  at  Tuckahoe,  untouched,  and  conducted  to  the  bank  of 
Harlem  River,  at  the  height  of  50  feet  above  tide.  The  power  of 
the  Harlem  would  then  be  required  to  elevate  it  to  the  height  of 
the  Receiving  Reservoir,  which,  being  assumed  as  with  reference 
to  the  Croton  waters,  makes  the  additional  elevation  73  feet. 
Upon  calculating  the  power  of  the  river,  however,  from  a  careful 
survey  of  the  present  pond,  it  was  found  incapable  of  raising  to  that 
height  more  than  4,939,000  gallons  per  day  ;  and  as  this  would 
leave  a  deficit  of  twro  or  three  million  gallons  per  day — even  for 
present  purposes,  at  the  time  of  completing  the  works — it  was  thought 
unnecessary  to  pursue  the  examination  of  these  routes  any  further. 

The  line  provisionally  located, — and  which  has  already  been 
adverted  to  in  a  former  part  of  this  Report, — commences  at  Pop- 
ham's  Calico  Factory,  the  Dam  of  which  will  require  rebuilding 
and  raising,  so  as  to  give  a  head  of  142  feet  above  tide.  The 
locality  is  favourable  for  the  construction  of  the  Dam  ;  but  the 
surface  of  the  pond,  being  bounded  by  high  ground  on  either  hand, 
is  limited  to  a  few  acres  in  extent.  The  water  would  be  drawn 
from  the  Dam  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  the  location  con- 
tinues wholly  on  that  side  to  the  city,  taking  the  same  ground  from 
the  vicinity  of  Fordham  church  that  is  occupied  by  the  routes 
from  the  Croton.  The  generality  of  this  line  is,  by  no  means,  un- 
favourable ; — the  only  item  of  considerable  expense,  before  inter- 
secting the  Croton  routes,  being  an  aqueduct  of  740  feet,  with  an 
extreme  elevation  of  57  feet,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Sprain  ; — length 
of  the  line  from  Popham's  Dam  to  the  Receiving  Reservoir  15^ 
miles,  and  to  the  Distributing  Reservoir  21  miles. 

This  line  was  surveyed  and  located  with  great  care ;  but  after 
gauging  the  streams,  it  was  not  thought  necessary  to  profile  or 
estimate  it,  and  I  presume  a  more  particular  description  will  not 
be  required,  after  the  results  of  that  part  of  the  examination  shall 
be  stated. 

On  the  15th  of  August  I  gauged  the  outlet  of  the  Rye  ponds,  and 
found  it  discharging  950,400  gallons  per  day.  On  the  20th,  and 
again  on  the  5th  September,  it  was  discharging  very  nearly  the 
same  quantity  ;  but  between  the  last  two  dates,  a  period  of  15  days, 
it  had  fallen,  having  been  drawn  down  by  the  proprietor  2T6„  inches. 


407 


[Doc.  No.  36. 


This  draught,  calculated  upon  the  surface  of  the  pond,  =  205 
acres,  gives  a  daily  decrease  of  957,500  gallons  in  the  volume  of 
the  pond  ;  showing  that,  during  the  time  observed,  the  supplies  of 
the  pond,  from  whatever  quarter  they  come,  were  in  quantity  about 
7000  gallons  per  day  less  than  the  evaporation. 

By  damming  the  valley,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  below  the 
small  pond,  so  as  to  back  up  the  water  to  three  feet  above  the 
ordinary  level  of  the  upper  pond,  a  reservoir  of  360  acres  will  be 
formed ;  and  by  deepening  the  outlet  of  the  upper  pond,  so  as  to 
command  a  draught  of  five  feet  in  all,  we  shall  obtain  a  volume  of 
705,672,000  gallons,  or  3,920,400  gallons  daily,  for  180  days  of 
drought.  Deducting  from  this  the  daily  loss  by  evaporation  = 
1,633,500  gallons,  which  is  the  lowest  admissible  calculation  for  the 
six  warm  months,  we  obtain  a  disposable  surplus  of  2,286,900  gal- 
lons per  day.  This  is  believed  to  be  the  maximum  which  should  be 
calculated  upon  from  the  storage  of  the  Rye  ponds  ;  and  the  writer 
is  not  aware  of  any  source  from  which  it  might  be  advisedly  aug- 
mented. A  small  additional  supply  is  doubtless  obtainable  from 
Byram  river,  if  it  were  not  necessary,  in  availing  of  it,  to  resort 
to  the  territory  as  well  as  the  waters  of  another  state. 

The  running  supply  of  the  Bronx  was  ascertained  on  the  4th  and 
5th  of  September.  It  was  necessary  to  repeat  the  gauging  several 
times  in  order  to  separate  the  accidental  flow  of  the  mills  from  the 
regular  discharge  of  the  river.  The  latter,  however,  was  at  length 
satisfactorily  ascertained,  viz.  4,331,880  gallons  ;  and  reducing  this 
in  the  ratio  of  one-fifth,  for  the  reason  heretofore  mentioned,  we  get 
3,465,504  gallons  as  the  daily  summer  flow  in  seasons  of  extreme 
drought.  Add  to  this,  the  quantity  above  estimated  from  the  Rye 
pond  reservoir,  =  2,286,900  gallons,  and  we  have  the  aggregate 
of  5,752,404  as  the  amount  of  all  that  can  safely  be  depended  upon 
from  this  quarter. 

In  drawing  up  the  foregoing  statements,  it  will  be  seen  that  I 
have  restricted  myself  to  a  general  outline  of  the  facts  and  princi- 
ples concerned — avoiding,  as  far  as  possible,  all  details  not  strictly 
necessary  for  the  elucidation  of  the  main  question.  It  would  have 
swelled  this  Report  to  an  unreasonable  length  had  I  embraced  even 
a  small  portion  of  the  particulars  contained  in  the  Books  and  Drafts 
of  the  survey,  or  of  the  researches  and  calculations  upon  which 
many  of  the  statements  are  founded.   These,  however,  are  retained 


Doc.  No.  36  ] 


408 


on  file,  and  will  be  cheerfully  communicated  whenever  their  appli- 
cation can  be  of  use  in  the  further  prosecution  of  the  work. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  express  my  strong  sense  of  the 
zeal  and  faithfulness  of  the  gentlemen  who  composed  my  party. 
Some  idea  of  their  claims,  in  this  respect,  will  be  inferred  from 
the  fact,  that,  in  about  ten  weeks,  we  levelled  upwards  of  200 
miles,  and  traversed  more  than  3400  courses,  a  large  proportion 
of  which  was  in  woods  or  upon  ground  otherwise  difficult  and 
rough. 

The  roll  of  the  party,  at  the  commencement,  was  as  follows— 
viz. 

George  W.  Cartwright,  Traverser. 
Edward  Ogden,  Leveller. 
W.  B.  Burnett,  U.  S.  A.  } 

Wm.  R.  Casey,  >  Rodmen  and  Assistant  to  Leveller. 

James  H.  Bell,  j 

P.'J.'No'xon!17'  \  Assistants  to  Traverser. 

R.  F.  Livingston,       >  Tr  , 

n  n  Eu  a?       \  Volunteers. 

George  C.  fehastler,  ^ 

Robert  Gurling,  Laborer. 

Messrs.  Livingston  and  Shacffer  were  associated,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, as  volunteers,  but  were  taken  to  supply  vacancies  soon 
after  the  organization  of  the  party,  and  acted  as  Assistants  to  the 
Leveller  and  Traverser  during  the  residue  of  the  survey. 

Mr.  D.  H.  Burr,  of  the  city,  has  also  rendered  valuable  assist- 
ance as  Draughtsman. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

D.  B.  DOUGLASS, 

Civil  Engineer. 

New-York,  1st  Nov.  1S33. 


409  [Doc.  No.  36. 


MR.  CHILTON'S  REPORT. 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  CROTON  RIVER  WATER. 

1.  The  application  of  re-agents  to  the  water  showed  the  absence 

of  sulphuric  acid  and  sulphates  ;  and  the  presence  of  lime, 
magnesia,  carbonic  acid,  muriatic  acid,  and  vegetable  matter. 

2.  By  evaporation  to  dryness,  resolution  of  soluble  matter,  and 

filtering,  a  residuum  was  obtained,  which  dissolved  in  dilute 
muriatic  acid  with  effervescence,  except  a  portion  of  vegetable 
matter. 

3.  The  watery  solution  of  soluble  matter  (in  No.  2)  contained  mu- 

riate of  magnesia  and  vegetable  extract,  without  lime. 

4.  The  muriatic  solution  (of  No.  2),  which  in  its  formation  was  at- 

tended with  effervescence,  contained  both  lime  and  magnesia  ; 
the  matter  dissolved  therefrom  must  have  been  the  carbonates 
of  these  earths. 

From  these  results  we  are  authorized  to  consider  muriate  of 
magnesia,  carbonate  of  lime,  carbonate  of  magnesia,  and  vegetable 
matter,  as  the  only  ingredients  of  the  water. 

5.  A  half-gallon,  principally  from  the  bottle  marked  ©  ,*  yield- 

ed, by  evaporation,  2.333  grains  residuum  moderately  dried, 

consisting  of 

Vegetable  matter,  .133 
Carbonates  of  lime  and  magnesia,  1.200 
Muriate  of  magnesia,  1.000 


2.333  grains. 


+  Taken  from  the  Croton,  at  Wood's  bridge,  at  low  water. 


Doc.  No.  36.] 


410 


6.  No.  1  and  No.  2,  a  quart  of  each,  yielded  1.3  grains,  which  is 
|2.6  grains  of  dry  residuum  for  the  half-gallon,  consisting  of 
Vegetable  matter,  0.125 
Carbonates  of  lime  and  magnesia,  1.375 
Muriate  of  magnesia,  1.000 


2.500  grains. 

7.  JSix  pints,  from  two  bottles,  yielded  only  2.1  grains  of  dry  mat- 
ter, the  vegetable  matter  reduced  to  charcoal  and  burnt  off. 
This  gives  for  the  half  gallon  1.4  grains. 

The  average  of  these  three  separate  results  is,  for  the  half-gal. 
Ion  2.08  grains,  or  for  the  gallon,  4.16  grains. 

The  quantity  of  vegetable  matter  being  not  only  different  in  the 
different  samples,  but  dried  at  different  temperatures,  may  have 
occasioned,  in  good  part,  the  difference  apparent  in  the  above  re- 
sults. From  experiment  (7)  it  seems  to  follow,  that  the  quantity 
of  saline  matter  cannot  exceed  2.8  grains  in  the  gallon,  a  quantity 
so  small  that  a  considerable  quantity  of  the  water  would  be  neces" 
sary  t  determine  very  minutely  the  proportional  quantity  of  each 
of  its  ingredients. 

(Signed) 

GEORGE  CHILTON. 


f  Nos.  1  and  2,  from  the  branches  of  the  upper  Croton. 
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